During the recent regional parliamentary sitting in Echuca, the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee tabled its interim report from their Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria.
The report focused on flood recovery in Northern Victoria and highlighted significant shortcomings in the Allan Labor Government’s response and recovery efforts for flood impacted Victorians, 18 months on from the devastating event.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, whose electorate was considerably impacted by the floods, said the alarming findings in the report echoed what she had heard from those in her region.
“One key aspect of the report found that individuals, businesses, and communities all suffered due to the unnecessarily difficult processes involved for accessing crucial financial aid following the floods,” Ms Cleeland said.
“This was a key concern of locals in our communities, with so many residents reaching out for financial support after damage to their homes, businesses, and farms.
“The complex processes and delays discouraged many from applying for the funding in the first place, while many others found that the aid available did not come close to meeting their actual needs.”
Another finding found a pressing demand for timely insurance processing to ease financial strain, and the broader issues of housing availability, affordability and suitability in the region created additional distress in housing flood affected people.
Ms Cleeland said local councils are still awaiting financial assistance from the Allan Labor Government to address the significant damage to infrastructure in flood-affected areas.
“While the Allan Labor Government continues to waste billions on project blowouts on Melbourne infrastructure projects, regional Victorians impacted by floods continue to pay the price for Labor’s inability to manage money,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Regional communities continue to miss out on the funding required to upgrade local infrastructure, making vital improvements that could help prevent severe infrastructure damage and save lives in a future flood event.
“With many residents still residing in temporary accommodation, the Allan Labor Government must do more.”
