Brimbank Council has called on Victoria Emergency Management Systems to improve its early warning mechanisms on impending disasters.
In a Maribyrnong River flood review report produced recently, the council expressed concern over the absence of a prior warning to alert people about the looming flooding.
“A specific focus should include a warning system and communication to residents and property owners about the risk of rising flood waters. This would provide some opportunity to relocate equipment and belongings,” reads part of the report.
The report is a response to last year’s flooding which caught residents by surprise as they were not adequately given a flood warning in advance.
Property owners along Maribyrnong River woke up in the wee hours of 14 October 2022 to find their homes, equipment and other properties impacted by the rapid rising water. To add on to residents’ misery, insurance premiums for properties along the river are destined to shoot up due to the high flooding risk.
“BCC officers are concerned about the potential insurance implications for property owners adjacent to the Maribyrnong River and other waterways. Flooding events can result in significant increases to insurance premiums, or even cases where property owners are unable to secure insurance, or insurance is limited,” reads the report.
Although the historic Arundel Road Bridge which was destroyed by the floods was repaired but future insurance is no longer guaranteed as premiums have shot up beyond the council’s means.
The report also called for the reviewing of flood mapping data with the view to improve planning on future flooding events.
“Review flood mapping data within the catchment, with consideration to the type of future flood events anticipated as a result of climate change, and current and future land use and development,” reads part of the report.
The council also lamented the human health risk posed by the floods which swept through aviation debris, industrial waste and landfills.
Says the report: “The Maribyrnong River Valley is surrounded by potentially contaminating uses including aviation, industry and landfills, which may have necessitated a health risk assessment in relation to the Flood Event.”
