By Matthew Sims
The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee has launched a parliamentary inquiry into last year’s floods, including the flooding of Maribyrnong River.
The Liberals and Nationals passed a motion in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, February 22 requiring the Environment and Planning Committee to report on the preparedness and response to the October 2022 Victorian floods.
The inquiry would 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 Victorian planning framework.
The committee have planned to hold public hearings in flood-affected regions as part of the inquiry.
Committee chair Sonja Terpstra said the inquiry would look at a wide variety of impacts and factors contributing to the damage inflicted to areas across the state as part of the flood event.
“This inquiry will look into the flood event as a whole and the areas affects,” she said.
“It will consider what caused or contributed to the flooding and the adequacy and effectiveness of early warning systems.”
On Friday, October 14, 2022, significant flooding occurred within the urban catchment of the Maribyrnong River, impacting more than 500 properties across Maribyrnong and causing extensive damage.
The State Emergency Service (SES) issued a major flood warning about 2.30am on October 14 as a result of significant rain in the upper ends of the Maribyrnong River catchment coinciding with high tide.
The parliamentary inquiry would run alongside a Melbourne Water review into the Maribyrnong River flood event.
Melbourne Water announced they would be appointing an alternative independent lead for the Maribyrnong flood review soon, after former lead Nick Wimbush decided to step down from the role following reports from The Age newspaper highlighting his role as the chair of a Moonee Valley planning panel which considered a change to the planning scheme in 2015.
In a statement, Melbourne Water denied Mr Wimbush was involved in a decision to amend the flood overlay near the Rivervue retirement village in Avondale Heights, as it had already been resolved by the Moonee Valley council and Melbourne Water.
According to Melbourne Water, Mr Wimbush and Melbourne Water made a mutual decision for him to step down as the review lead.
Submissions close on Monday, May 8.
Details: new.parliament.vic.gov.au/floodinquiry
