Carbone Lawyers has started initial discussions with Maribyrnong flood victims towards a potential class action against the Victoria Racing Club [VRC].
The Victoria Racing Club [VRC] built the flood wall around the Flemington Racecourse in 2007, after receiving approval from the state government to undertake upgrade and flood protection in 2004.
As reported by Star Weekly, Melbourne Water has launched a review of the decision to erect the flood wall around Flemington Racecourse following the flooding event along the Maribyrnong River on Friday, October 14.
Money raised from the Melbourne Cup Carnival will be donated to flood relief efforts, with the VRC initially pledging $500,000.
VRC chairman Neil Wilson said the Melbourne Cup Carnival would use its platform to raise awareness of the ongoing flooding situation across the country.
The VRC will announce the final amount raised on Saturday, November 5.
Carbone Lawyers personal injury law and litigation head John Karantzis said about 150 people had registered interest in the class action so far.
Mr Karantzis said Carbone Lawyers were also investigating a number of the causes of the flooding.
“Potentially, we could be looking at any authorities that gave the planning approval for the wall,” he said.
Maribyrnong resident Jane Trewin has been advocating for better flood management along the Maribyrnong River for a number of decades alongside her late husband Shane, including pushing for the construction of the Arundel retarding basin and pushing against the construction of the Flemington Racecourse flood wall.
“We probably wouldn’t be in the situation we are now,” she said.
Mrs Trewin said it had been “gut-wrenching” to see the damage felt across the Maribyrnong community.
“I’ve lost my marital home,” she said.
“I’m living out of my car at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Footscray SES volunteer Faye Bendrups said a communications failure and an inappropriate response meant Maribyrnong flood victims were not properly informed about the status of the flood.
Dr Bendrups, who is also Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association president and vice-chair of the National SES Volunteers Association, said one of the key issues surrounding the Maribyrnong flood was a lack of preparedness.
“I think it’s been widely reported that people might have been warned earlier. They had no time to get organised.”
Dr Bendrups said the people on the ground did not have up-to-date information about the extent of the flood.
A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation issued a number of public information products and warnings to the Maribyrnong community which commenced with a proactive doorknock on Tuesday, October 11.
A Watch and Act was issued on Thursday, October 13 followed by the emergency alerts and doorknocks to evacuate early on the Friday morning.
