Council presents at flood inquiry public hearing

Published on 25 August 2023

Repairing and improving flood mitigation infrastructure, connecting our communities and disaster recovery funding arrangements were key themes Gannawarra Shire Council raised during a public hearing regarding the Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria.

Gannawarra Shire was one of five municipalities that presented to the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee during a hearing held yesterday at Echuca, with Mayor Charlie Gillingham and Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson representing Council.

“Council welcomed the opportunity to speak to the parliamentary committee about our experiences from the October-December 2022 floods and our submission to the Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria, developed thanks to extensive input from residents, local agencies and Council staff,” Mayor Gillingham said.

“Our presentation gave an insight into how the floods impacted our communities, with many residents still recovering from our second flood event in 11 years.”

Council’s presentation formed part of a two-and-a-half-hour panel discussion that focused on how the floods impacted the local government sector, with the City of Greater Bendigo, Campaspe Shire Council, Loddon Shire Council, Mount Alexander Shire and the Murray River Group of Councils represented.

“By uniting with our local government counterparts, we were able to highlight to the parliamentary committee members that measures can be taken now to ensure our next major flood does not impact our communities as significantly as the October-December 2022 event,” Mr Rollinson said.

The parliamentary committee will hold public hearings in the coming weeks in Melbourne, Shepparton and Seymour, with presentations at these sessions to assist with the development of the committee’s findings and recommendations.

“Council looks forward to the committee presenting its findings and recommendations in mid-2024, which will be passed onto the State Government for consideration and, if accepted, implementing,” Mr Rollinson said.

To view Gannawarra Shire Council’s submission to the Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria, please click on the Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event heading at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/floods

ABOVE: Gannawarra Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson (left) and Mayor Charlie Gillingham presented to the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee's Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria's hearing held at Echuca yesterday.