2022 Flood Investigation | Final Report Submitted to Parliament

The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee, which conducted the inquiry, included Northern Victoria members Gaelle Broad, Wendy Lovell and Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, and presented its final report to Parliament on 30 July.

During 18 months of work, the committee heard evidence at public hearings in Rochester, Echuca, Seymour, Shepparton and Melbourne, and accepted 880 submissions.

The final report contained 90 findings and 73 recommendations. The government has six months to respond.

Some of the key findings and recommendations relating to the floods in northern Victoria include:

Find 26: Around the 2022 flood, inflows to Lake Eildon were significantly higher than releases. Although releases from Lake Eildon contributed to flooding immediately downstream of storage, the timing of these releases reduced the severity of the flood peak further downstream, including at Seymour and Shepparton.

Find 32: Transferring the state’s rain and river gauges to the existing flood warning network of the Meteorological Office is an appropriate measure to improve the communication of flood warnings.

Recommendation 41: The transfer of ownership and responsibility for public meters to the Bureau of Meteorology should be completed as a matter of priority. In addition, the Victorian Government should request the Commonwealth Government to provide a public update on the transfer timelines by the end of 2024.

Find 37: During the 2022 flood, the transmission of emergency warnings was inconsistent across affected communities. Some areas received excessive warnings from competing sources, while others received inaccurate, limited, or delayed warnings. In both cases, communities experienced a level of confusion that limited people’s ability to make informed decisions.

Find 44: Early warnings issued during the 2022 flood highlighted several issues:

• inconsistent distribution and clarity of warnings and information;

• the information was delayed or incorrect, or did not provide sufficient detail to enable the public to make informed decisions; and

• some community members did not know where to find information, leading some to rely too much on information from social media.

Recommendation 45: That the Victorian Government improves the flood warning system so that warnings:

• accurate with the most up-to-date information;

• delivered on time;

• clear and easy to understand;

• consistently distributed across different communities; and

• be accessible in the relevant formats and languages, where applicable.

Recommendation 49: That the Victorian Government increase funding for volunteer training to build the capacity of the State Emergency Service units and the Shepparton, Echuca and Moama search and rescue teams to respond to emergencies.

Find 63: There was inconsistency in evacuation preparation in communities affected by the 2022 flood, compromising the effectiveness of the response. It is critical to ensure that individuals and businesses are encouraged to develop robust evacuation plans and that the Victoria State Emergency Service issues timely, accurate and informative evacuation warnings.

Recommendation 52: That the Victorian Government, in collaboration with the Victoria State Emergency Service, review its approach to evacuation warnings to identify opportunities for improvement and greater community responsiveness.

Find 71: Shepparton Search and Rescue demonstrated significant operational effectiveness during the 2022 floods despite operating under limited resources. These challenges highlight the need for enhanced structural and resource-based support for independent emergency services to ensure optimum response capabilities in future emergencies.

Recommendation 57: That the Victorian Government increase funding for search and rescue teams in Shepparton and Echuca and Moama to ensure optimal response capabilities for future emergencies.

Recommendation 61: That the Victorian Government is simplifying the process for applying for disaster recovery funding. This could mean reducing paperwork, providing practical assistance and exploring technology to streamline processes.

Find 87: The 2022 flood has left many affected with severe and lasting trauma, manifesting in mental health issues that require extensive support and intervention.

Recommendation 71: That the Victorian Government provide long-term funding contracts for mental health services in flood-affected areas, with a focus on securing dedicated mental health professionals and delivering effective services in communities affected by natural disasters.

To read the final report, visit https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/floodinquiry/reports

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