Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Homeowners, businesses and farmers will help inform the review of the 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response through local groups and dedicated community consultations in coming months.

Head of the review Neil Comrie AO APM encouraged all Victorians to contribute to the review, particularly those who have experienced floods across multiple decades.

“It’s important for the review to gather all the necessary information and some of the most important information will come from communities in the flood-affected areas,” he said.

“I encourage anyone who is keen to share their thoughts to make a submission to the review as we are putting in place the right mechanisms to enable everyone to provide their views.

“This is an opportunity to tap into some of the knowledge that regional Victorians in particular have gained through their experience of the recent floods and those in past decades.”

Mr Comrie said his immediate focus was drawing together the necessary resources to position the review to engage communities across the state in an extensive and accessible consultation process.

“With more than 20 per cent of Victoria covered in water during the January floods alone, there will be many areas that have valuable experiences to share,” he said.

“The review will set up community consultation sessions in a number of the key, flood-affected areas and the locations for those will be published across the state as soon as they’re organised.

“In addition to the consultations, there will be a dedicated email address for submissions, but one of the best ways for individuals to start this process is through contributing to local forums and municipal groups.”

Mr Comrie said the review, like any other of its nature, had to adhere to its terms of reference and urged people to follow them in making any submission. The review of the 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response will examine:

•    the adequacy of flood predictions and modelling;
•     the timeliness and effectiveness of warnings and public information
•     emergency services command and control arrangements;
•     the adequacy of evacuations of people most at-risk, including those in health and aged-care facilities;
•     the adequacy of clean-up and recovery efforts;
•     the adequacy of service delivery by Federal, State and local governments, and
•     the adequacy of funding provided by State and Federal governments for emergency grants.

Mr Comrie said a Parliamentary inquiry would investigate related issues, including identifying best practice and emerging technology for flood mitigation, monitoring infrastructure and managing levees across Victoria.
The Environment and Natural Resources Committee will make its final report to Parliament by November 30, 2011.