Mr Walsh has called on the Victorian Government to adopt the 73 recommendations made in the report, which he said are crucial for the future of the region.
“The flood damage is done, but the huge list of recommendations in the report must be immediately adopted if we are not to go through this whole sorry mess again with the next major rain event,” he said.
“The government has hundreds of pages of personal testimony of where this all went wrong, the inquiry has made a raft of valuable recommendations and while Premier (Jacinta) Allan has six months to consider the report, nobody can deny the people have spoken — and now they need to be heard.
“These recommendations are vital for the future safety of regional Victoria and must be adopted now and steps taken to implement them as fast as possible.”
In Echuca, Mr Walsh believes that one of the biggest issues addressed by the recommendations surrounds levee banks.
He highlighted recommendation 29, which is the funding of a pilot ring levee development program in northern Victoria.
“The controversy created by a snap decision to cut through Echuca with a massive levee bank in 2022 has not gone away,” Mr Walsh said.
“The inquiry heard many residents on the river side of the levee describe feelings of abandonment and neglect, saying the protection of residences and people on the other side of levee was prioritised at the expense of their own properties and wellbeing.
“Brett Thomson said even though all (of) Echuca was under an evacuation order, for some reason the residents on ‘the wrong side of the levy’ were told they would be given no assistance and would have to fend for themselves, calling that decision ‘cruel’.
“Annie Gilbert says the trauma of not only the flood event but also the recovery and rebuild process is having long-lasting effects on people.”
Another recommendation, number 58, calls on the government, working with local councils, to establish statewide operating guidelines for Emergency Relief Centres.
Mr Walsh said these guidelines should include protocols on rapid activation, streamlined communication and resource mobilisation. He believes local councils should remain empowered to tailor protocols to meet local needs.
Recommendation 60 was also stressed by Mr Walsh, which asks the government to plan and resource recovery hubs, including online access, sufficiently to fulfil their role in long-term community recovery and resilience building.
“Sandi Marsh, who lives at Strathallan, says her farm was flooded and they lost everything, but the only compensation was a one-off grant of $25,000,” Mr Walsh said.
“That’s a story I have heard over and over, and the inquiry is urging for more efficient and empathetic disaster recovery assistance programs. It noted amidst the chaos of disaster, a cumbersome process requiring considerable time and paperwork hindered access to immediate aid.
“This is a clear and systemic failure, under various ministers, to fix the system before it all went wrong and provide the resources needed.”
Mr Walsh said that while natural disasters are a part of life, mitigation and protection systems can be put in place to better support communities.
“Governments are there to protect the people, to help the people,” Mr Walsh said
“I have had an endless queue of visitors to my electorate office seeking help in navigating the ridiculously complex support applications, or helping those who have no digital access or skills.”
Ms Lovell — who was part of the committee that conducted the inquiry and delivered the report — said the ball was now well and truly in the government’s court.
Ms Lovell has called on the government to respond meaningfully to the findings and recommendations of the report and ensure that warning systems are enhanced, residents are educated for disaster preparedness and response, local governments are resourced to maintain updated flood plans, and emergency services get the training and support they need to deal with future natural disasters.
“Communities across Victoria were devastated by the floods of October 2022, and it has been inspiring to see the courage and resilience of residents in flood-affected areas as they build back their homes and lives,” Ms Lovell said.
“The Victorian Government needs to take seriously the findings of the flood inquiry report, and fund and implement the 73 recommendations in full.
“We are likely to face more floods in the future, so it is imperative that the government adequately resources local emergency services to attract and train volunteers to deal with future disasters.”
To read the final report, visit https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/floodinquiry/reports
