Jennifer Pittorino
An investigation into the October 2022 Victorian floods has found Melbourne Water must improve its flood forecasting and early warning systems to avoid a repeat of the damage inflicted on homes and businesses.
The review instigated by Melbourne Water and led by former Federal and Victorian Supreme Court judge Tony Pagone, investigated the causes and contributors to the floods.
Amongst the findings, the report recommended Melbourne Water should undertake more regular reviews of flood models, considering the best estimates of climate change. It also recommended investigating long-term sustainable flood mitigation options for the Maribyrnong River.
Another recommendation was that a hydraulic model be developed to confirm the impact of the Flemington Flood Wall and the efficacy of the associated downstream compensatory works. This is expected in April 2024.
Melbourne Water was advised to implement flood forecasting at intervals of less than two hours and consult with the Bureau of Meteorology to develop rainfall forecasts more frequently than every 6 hours.
Melbourne Water managing director Nerina Di Lorenzo said the water authority would work to implement all the recommendations.
“We have been working closely with the community in Maribyrnong and other affected locations over the past 12 months,” she said.
Ms Di Lorenzo said this included community sessions across the impacted areas where the authority had received more than 60 submissions and heard from more than 100 residents during the community consultation.
As well as the community consultation, Ms Di Lorenzo said since last October’s flood, Melbourne Water had begun providing new flood modelling for every river catchment in Melbourne by the end of 2026.
“That includes climate change impacts projected to the year 2100,” she said.
Maribyrnong Community Recovery Committee (CRC) chair Madeleine MF Serle said the report held no surprises.
“All of the recommendations and recommendations could have been written before the panel began its work,” she said.
“As Chair of the CRC, I have not changed my view that the Review was set up with flawed process and Terms of Reference.
“And now the flood affected community’s own understanding has been confirmed unreservedly, Melbourne Water did not do its job.
“Clearly, Melbourne Water now must work very hard to build expertise and systems to perform its role and discharge is statutory obligations.”
