Interim report tabled | The Committee's Interim Report was tabled on 18 April 2024 in Echuca.
Access the Report pageThe Committee will investigate Victoria's preparedness for, and response to Victoria’s major flooding event of October 2022 (the Flood Event). The inquiry will look into the flood event as a whole and the areas affected, and 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 Victoria planning framework.
On 22 February 2023, the Legislative Council agreed to the following motion:
That this House requires the Environment and Planning Committee to inquire into, consider and report, by 30 June 2024, on the state’s preparedness for and response to Victoria’s major flooding event of October 2022 (the Flood Event), including but not limited to the —
(1) causes of and contributors to the Flood Event;
(2) adequacy and effectiveness of early warning systems;
(3) resourcing of the State Emergency Service, the adequacy of its response to the Flood Event and the adequacy of its resourcing to deal with increasing floods and natural disasters in the future;
(4) implementation and effectiveness of the 2016 Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy in relation to the Flood Event;
(5) location, funding, maintenance and effectiveness of engineered structures, such as floodwalls, rural levees and culverts, as a flood mitigation strategy;
(6) Flood Event as a whole, including but not limited to, the catchments and floodplains of the —
(a) Avoca River;
(b) Barwon River;
(c) Broken River;
(d) Campaspe River;
(e) Goulburn River;
(f) Loddon River;
(g) Maribyrnong River;
(h) Murray River;
(7) the 2007 decision of the Minister for Planning to approve the construction of a flood wall around Flemington Racecourse and whether the growing impacts of climate change were considered;
(8) the implications for future planning decisions including —
(a) how the Victorian planning framework can ensure climate mitigation is a consideration in future planning decisions;
(b) how corporate interests may influence decision‐making at the expense of communities and climate change preparedness; and
(9) any other related matters.
Latest news
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Northern Victoria is focus of flood inquiry interim report
Environment | 18 April 2024
The enormous contribution of regional communities to a parliamentary inquiry into the 2022 flood event has been recognised at the regional sitting of the Legislative Council in Echuca.
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Flood inquiry preparing report for parliament
Environment | 5 February 2024
Future flood response, recovery and rebuild are being considered as part of a long-awaited inquiry report into the October 2022 event in Victoria.
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Committee considers views of flood victims
Environment | 1 November 2023
Victorian flood survivors have spoken directly to MPs investigating the October 2022 event.
Snapshot of inquiry
The Environment and Planning Committee is investigating Victoria’s flooding event of October 2022. The inquiry is examining the state's preparedness for, and response, to the October 2022 flood event. It is also looking at how to improve our approach to future extreme weather events. This includes talking to the communities affected, reviewing emergency services, and government and non-government agencies and approaches.
The final report will be presented in July 2024.
Latest videos
Media releases
Interim report on 2022 flood in northern Victoria
Media Release | 18 April
Flood inquiry to hear from Government Ministers
Media Release | 5 December 2023
Flood inquiry hearings resume Monday
Media Release | 17 November 2023
Flood inquiry to hear from water chiefs
Media Release | 23 October 2023
Flood inquiry to hold open mic next week
Media Release | 10 October 2023
Flood inquiry hearings continue this week
Media Release | 9 October 2023
Shepparton and Seymour host flood inquiry hearings
Media Release | 11 September 2023
Flood inquiry public hearings start in state s north
Media Release | 18 August 2023
Flood inquiry open mic registrations for Rochester
Media Release | 14 August 2023
Floods inquiry probes readiness and responses
Media Release | 6 March 2023