Undertaking Research
The Committee will investigate Victoria's preparedness for, and response to Victoria’s major flooding event of October 2022 (the Flood Event). The inquiry will look into the flood event as a whole and the areas affected, and consider factors such as what caused or contributed to the Flood Event; emergency services; government policy; flood mitigation strategies; the Flemington Racecourse flood wall; and the Victoria planning framework.
On 22 February 2023, the Legislative Council agreed to the following motion:
That this House requires the Environment and Planning Committee to inquire into, consider and report, by 30 June 2024, on the state’s preparedness for and response to Victoria’s major flooding event of October 2022 (the Flood Event), including but not limited to the —
(1) causes of and contributors to the Flood Event;
(2) adequacy and effectiveness of early warning systems;
(3) resourcing of the State Emergency Service, the adequacy of its response to the Flood Event and the adequacy of its resourcing to deal with increasing floods and natural disasters in the future;
(4) implementation and effectiveness of the 2016 Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy in relation to the Flood Event;
(5) location, funding, maintenance and effectiveness of engineered structures, such as floodwalls, rural levees and culverts, as a flood mitigation strategy;
(6) Flood Event as a whole, including but not limited to, the catchments and floodplains of the —
(a) Avoca River;
(b) Barwon River;
(c) Broken River;
(d) Campaspe River;
(e) Goulburn River;
(f) Loddon River;
(g) Maribyrnong River;
(h) Murray River;
(7) the 2007 decision of the Minister for Planning to approve the construction of a flood wall around Flemington Racecourse and whether the growing impacts of climate change were considered;
(8) the implications for future planning decisions including —
(a) how the Victorian planning framework can ensure climate mitigation is a consideration in future planning decisions;
(b) how corporate interests may influence decision‐making at the expense of communities and climate change preparedness; and
(9) any other related matters.
Flood inquiry update with Ryan Batchelor
Seymour ‘forgotten’ amid flood crisis
Shepparton region hopes to avoid repeat flood
Flood anguish
Echuca flood response in the spotlight
Rochester calls for change after flood
Rochester flood survivors speak at open mic
Flood-struck Rochester and district residents bravely shared their survival stories at an open mic session, held as part of the parliamentary inquiry into the October 2022 event.
Rochester searches for answers to flood
Seymour flood recovery ongoing
Maribyrnong flood survivors share their stories
Flood-impacted Maribyrnong residents have spoken about the October 2022 event
Media releases
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Flood inquiry preparing report for parliament
Environment | 5 February 2024
Future flood response, recovery and rebuild are being considered as part of a long-awaited inquiry report into the October 2022 event in Victoria.
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Committee considers views of flood victims
Environment | 1 November 2023
Victorian flood survivors have spoken directly to MPs investigating the October 2022 event.
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Flood inquiry hearings set to begin
Environment | 3 August 2023
Committee MPs to visit Rochester, Echuca, Shepparton and Seymour as part of parliamentary probe into the 2022 disaster.