The Nationals Member for Shepparton, Kim O’Keeffe, is urging local residents to have their say in the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee’s Inquiry into the 2022 floods.
Ms O’Keeffe says the committee will be investigating the state’s readiness for, and response to, the devastating floods across northern Victoria in October.
She says the inquiry will be focusing on the flood event as a whole, as well as the areas affected, and considering factors such as what caused, or compounded, the flooding – from emergency services, government policy, flood mitigation strategies and the significant impact on the communities affected.
Joining the Leader of The Nationals, Peter Walsh and the Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, at Loch Garry this week, Ms O’Keeffe and her colleagues were able to experience first-hand the “incredible impact” of the recent flooding event.
“But these discussions and issues from this visit are only one of many examples of the need for those impacted directly to make a submission,” Ms O’Keeffe added.
Ms O’Keeffe says the Committee will be holding public hearings for this inquiry in Shepparton and people will have the opportunity to have their say on Wednesday
September 13.
“Having a Parliamentary Committee hold a public hearing in our community is just the start of the road to recovery and the campaign to better prepare our region and state against future flooding events.
“We must speak up and ensure that the significant impact to our region is understood,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
The Committee will be also holding public hearings in Rochester, Echuca, Seymour and Melbourne.
More information about the public hearings including venues and list of witness will appear on the hearings tab on Parliament of Victoria’s website as they come to hand at https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/floodinquiry.
“Residents wanting to make submissions have until Monday May 9,” Ms O’Keeffe added.
Submissions can be made at https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/floodinquiry/submissions.
“People who have experienced the floods firsthand are in the best position to make sure we as a community are better prepared for future flooding events and the need to be a part of this major Parliamentary inquiry,” Ms O’Keeffe says.