Thursday, 03 March 2011

Victorians affected by recent severe floods are invited to have their say on the Review of 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response, with public submissions opening today.

The head of the review, Neil Comrie, AO APM, encouraged homeowners, residents, businesses andfarmers in flood-affected areas to share their views by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Submissions can also be posted to the review.

“From today, all Victorians, but particularly those in flood-affected communities can have their say and help inform this comprehensive review,” Mr Comrie said.

“With an interim report due on June 30, we are working within a tight timeframe, but ascertaining theviews of those who live and work in flood-affected areas is crucial to the outcomes of this review.”

Mr Comrie said online submissions were the first step in a comprehensive program of community consultation, with public meetings in flood-affected towns to begin next week.

“With more than 100 towns and 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.

“Throughout March and April, we will be visiting more than a dozen regional and rural centres to speak to residents of those towns and surrounding areas and hear their thoughts,” Mr Comrie said.

The community meetings will begin in Skipton on Wednesday, March 9, Charlton on Thursday, March 10, Creswick on Friday, March 11 and Dederang and Myrtleford on Tuesday, March 15.

Other locations to be canvassed during the consultation period include Beaufort, Benalla, Carisbrook, Horsham, Kerang, Koo Wee Rup, Mildura, Rochester and Swan Hill.

Mr Comrie said the review 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 timelines and effectiveness of warnings and public information
• emergency services command and control arrangements;
• the adequacy of evacuations of people 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 technology for flood mitigation, monitoring infrastructure and levees across Victoria.

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee will make its final report to Parliament by November 30, 2011.