Council discusses flood response, recovery with VICSES CEO

Published on 16 August 2024

Response and recovery efforts during the 2022 floods that impacted 44 per cent of Gannawarra Shire was a key topic discussed between Gannawarra Shire Council and Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) leaders last week.

Council staff, led by Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson, met with VICSES Chief Executive Officer, Greg Leach on 8 August to discuss local emergency response and recovery issues.

“Our dedicated VICSES volunteers worked alongside hundreds of emergency service personnel and residents to protect properties and buildings from inundation during the 2022 floods,” Mr Rollinson said.

“Our meeting with Greg enabled us to thank the VICSES for the role they played during the 2022 floods and address key learnings from what was our second major flood event in the space of 11 years.”

Riverine flooding emergency management and differences relating to how these events impact the Gannawarra compared to other parts of the State was one of the major topics discussed.

“As we saw with the 2011 and 2022 floods, the nature of flows along the Avoca, Loddon and Murray rivers, as well as Pyramid Creek and associated tributaries, provide emergency response authorities with time to prepare for these additional flows and forecast flooding,” Mr Rollinson said.

“The pace in which these flows move also creates the unique situation where residents near the southern boundary of the Gannawarra Shire are entering a recovery phase as areas in the north of the municipality are beginning to respond to riverine flooding.

“Meeting with Greg enabled us to state that these factors mean that emergency management practices that are commonplace in other parts of the State will not work in the Gannawarra, and that localised solutions are required.”

The meeting also enabled Council and VICSES leadership to discuss Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee’s Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria, specifically recommendations relating to providing additional support to the VICSES.

“Council’s submission to the 2022 flood event inquiry included two recommendations specifically relating to resourcing the VICSES so it can sufficiently fulfill its planning and control agency role when responding to major flood events, and this is something we would like the State Government to enact,” Mr Rollinson.

“Council thanks Greg and VICSES for providing Council the opportunity to meet, and we look forward to building on our proactive relationship.”

ABOVE: Emergency services personnel and volunteers worked to place sandbags on the Kerang-Bendigo railway line during the 2022 floods.