State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and the Water Minister have clashed in Victorian Parliament over the management of the Goulburn River flood plain in the Bunbartha and Kaarimba areas.
The clash came during the 60th Victorian Parliament’s one and only sitting of 2022 following the November election.
During question time for the Legislative Council on Tuesday, December 20, Ms Lovell asked Harriet Shing what assurances the government could offer owners of properties that were not listed as being in the flood zone but were flooded in October.
“During the October floods, farms and residential properties in Bunbartha and Kaarimba, that are not in the designated flood zone, were flooded due to the levee bank surrounding Loch Garry breaching when the bars were not fully extracted from the loch, which would have allowed floodwaters to flow through the Bunbartha Creek system and natural waterways,” Ms Lovell said.
“Minister, what guarantees can you provide to those farmers and residential property owners whose properties are not in the flood zone that this will not happen again?”
In response, Ms Shing said the government would learn from the floods and the response to them, but did not directly address the management of the Loch Garry.
“The October floods were completely devastating to so many communities across the state,” she said.
“The frontline response to the way in which communities, such as Echuca and Rochester, and indeed so many others, were impacted is something that has taught us across government and indeed across the water sector so many things about the way in which we can, not only build upon what has worked, but continue to build back better.
“I want to acknowledge the work of water authorities, including those involved in the levees that you have talked about, and the work goes on to continue to provide flood response now and into the future.”
In her supplementary question Ms Lovell accused the minister of dodging the question.
“There was no answer there,” she said.
“I do not think we even heard the words ‘Bunbartha’ and ‘Kaarimba’ mentioned.
“Minister, drainage in the area is poor due to channel 12 blocking the natural depression, and some landholders were forced to pump water for several weeks to drain it from their homes and paddocks.
“Minister, what actions will you undertake to ensure drainage in the Bunbartha and Kaarimba area is improved?”
Ms Shing reminded Ms Lovell that they had had a private conversation about the matter during the floods.
“You actually contacted me directly about these matters in the course of the flooding, and indeed it was a good thing to be able to confirm with you, through the department, the way in which this assistance has been provided,” she said.
“The authorities have been continuing to provide pump and other assistance to people who have been impacted outside of those flood areas.
“You, in fact, know this and would know this from local press coverage, which has addressed this particular issue.”
Ms Shing, however, did not refer to drainage in the Bunbartha and Kaarimba areas while answering the question.