That, following a significant natural disaster such as the 2022 flood, the Inspector-General for Emergency Management conduct a review at an appropriate time to provide feedback for continuous improvement.

That the Victorian Government confirm the powers of the Inspector-General for Emergency Management to undertake reviews on a self-referral basis or, if such powers do not exist, to legislate to provide these powers.

That the Victorian Government consider all the evidence, findings and recommendations from this Report when developing a new Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy.

That the new Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy detail the coordination responsibility of the Victorian Government to ensure all flood studies for all local government areas are fully funded and completed.

That the Victorian Government make public the internal, de-identified after-action review conducted by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

That the Victorian Government clearly state the operational role and responsibilities of each emergency service in preparation for a flood emergency, outlining the appropriate chain of command, communication protocols, and engagement with the local community.

That the Victorian Government ensure regional catchment management authorities, with local councils, are funded and resourced to conduct and implement up to date flood studies on a regular basis.

That the Victorian Government require peer review of publicly funded flood modelling as part of the next Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy.

That Melbourne Water and other floodplain management authorities review flood models every five years and update the models at least every 10 years and after the occurrence of a major flood.

That the Victorian Government provide Victorians with access to appropriate data contained within the FloodZoom platform

That the Victorian Government introduce amendments to the Sale of Land Act 1962 (Vic) to require vendor disclosure statements to include a simple statement on flood risk. In addition, houses or dwellings previously flooded must be included in any vendor declaration statement.

That Emergency Management Victoria work with local government authorities and local State Emergency Service units to provide access to local flood guides to all residents in a flood zone, that identify the likely flood impacts on individual properties.

That the Victorian Government improve individual and community awareness about their own roles and responsibilities in emergency management, and make available information resources for preparing for flood and other emergencies.

That the Victorian Government require the emergency management sector to ensure that the needs of vulnerable communities including people with disability are included in all disaster preparation and response plans and ensure that sufficient funding is available to make all disaster emergency responses inclusive for people with disability.

That the Victorian Government provide flood risk and planning information in a way that is appropriately accessible to people with additional needs, including people with disability.

That the Victorian Government ensure early warning systems include consideration of a voluntary register of people in need of additional support to receive early warning and support during natural disasters.

That the Victorian Government fast-track the implementation of flood studies into planning schemes. This should be done cooperatively with local councils and relevant stakeholders, group together flood studies into regional amendments, and use the Minister for Planning’s powers as required, within two years of completion.

That the Victorian Government introduce amendments to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) and Victoria Planning Provisions so that planning and other authorities must address climate change at all levels of the planning process.

That the Victorian Government work with floodplain management authorities and climate scientists to understand how flood modelling can be used to better predict the impact of climate change on flooding and update its flood management policies in line with this understanding.

That regional local councils work closely with their regional catchment management authorities to better understand, manage, and mitigate the risk of building on floodplains in regional Victoria.

That Victoria’s strategic land use planning limit inappropriate new housing and business developments inside 1% AEP floodplains.

That the Victorian Government support residents within 1% AEP floodplains, including with funded programs, to manage the risk facing their existing properties and make their properties more flood resilient.

That the Victorian Government fund a resilient homes program to raise or retrofit residential properties at risk of flood inundation, and which prioritises homeowners affected by the 2022 flood event.

That the Victorian Government require planning authorities, floodplain management authorities and other relevant actors to take account of the change in land use and especially projected changes to land use when setting flood levels for planning and development and the application of the land subject to inundation overlay.

As part of the development of the new Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy, that the Victorian Government review the operation of the last Strategy, in consultation with local councils, community representatives, expert advisory groups and other relevant stakeholders

That the Victorian Government’s review of the last Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy (and development of the new Strategy) examine levee funding and management arrangements to determine if they are still fit for purpose based on new information and insights from the October 2022 flood event.

That the Victorian Government fund floodplain managers to develop maps modelling scenarios demonstrating the impact on landholders of specified levee breeches.

That the Victorian Government review the Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy to examine issues around rural levee management. This should include the roles and responsibilities of local councils and private landowners and consider the adequacy of taxpayer support for maintaining these systems.

That the Victorian Government fund the pilot of a ring levee development program in Northern Victoria to protect house and curtilage in flood-prone areas.

That the Victorian Government ensure that future flood mitigation efforts include updated and rigorous hydraulic modelling before implementation, ensuring the effectiveness of compensatory measures. Additionally, these strategies should undergo independent peer review to validate their expected performance.

That the Victorian Government ensure that major flood mitigation measures be assessed and reviewed to ensure they perform as intended.

That the efficacy and impact of the Flemington Racecourse flood wall be considered as part of Melbourne Water’s review of mitigation in the Maribyrnong River catchment announced following the updated flood modelling.

That the Victorian Government further investigate options for increasing outlet capacity at Lake Eppalock. This investigation should involve:
- conducting a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate financial feasibility
- extensive stakeholder engagement to gather input from affected parties and communities
- examination of environmental effects
- environmental risk assessments to understand potential impacts on local ecosystems, wildlife and water quality
- reviewing water-sharing arrangements to ensure: –appropriate adjustments to maintain equitable water distribution and –compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

That the Victorian Government ensure that, for future events that are expected to replicate high storage and high rainfall conditions, new temporary operating rules for water storage and release are developed. These new rules must take account of the interest of those who are affected by Eildon and Eppalock’s storages including downstream landholders and water entitlement holders.

That the Victorian Government ensure that the state’s existing culvert infrastructure in high-risk flood areas is fit for purpose, and that the Government also consult with local councils and other relevant stakeholders and prioritise betterment in any upgrade works deemed necessary.

That the Victorian Government audit transport links in and out of disaster-prone areas.

That the Victorian Government clarify responsibility for flood mitigation infrastructure, with clear accountability and transparency for who is responsible for each asset.

That the Victorian Government work with the Commonwealth Government to ensure the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements are not unduly burdensome.

That the Victorian Government prioritise investment in betterment projects to improve the resilience of mitigation infrastructure, and in doing so work with the Commonwealth Government to achieve this goal.

That the Victorian Government adapt policies and funding models to prioritise betterment initiatives, including ensuring that financial resources are allocated effectively to meet long-term needs of at-risk communities, and in doing so work with the Commonwealth Government to achieve this goal.

The transfer of ownership and responsibility for public gauges to the Bureau of Meteorology should be completed as a priority, and the Victorian Government should request the Commonwealth Government provide a public update by the end of 2024 on these transfer timelines.

That the Victorian Government identify and fill critical gaps in the state’s gauge network. New gauges should be installed in priority locations as soon as possible, and existing gauges should be upgraded with telemetry services. Information from flood gauges and telemetry services should be easily accessible by the public.

That the Victorian Government use the experience of warnings transmitted during the 2022 flood event to identify and adopt best practice for community warning frequency.

That the Victorian Government improve the accuracy, timeliness, and relevance of the VicEmergency service during an emergency. In doing so, the Government should actively seek input from non-government and government stakeholders to ensure that the service can meet the diverse needs of different communities during a crisis.

That the Victorian Government improve the flood warning system so that warnings are:
- accurate with the most up-to-date information
- delivered in a timely way
- clear and easily understood
- consistently disseminated across different communities
- accessible in relevant formats and languages, where appropriate.

That the Victorian Government ensure the emergency warning system is inclusive and able to be used by all Victorians, and should:
- include real-time translation of warnings into multiple languages during a crisis event
- deliver information in easier to understand ways which meet the needs of people with a disability.

Given the essential role of digital connectivity in emergency management and response, that the Victorian Government, working with the Commonwealth Government as necessary, address connectivity limitations, focusing on rural and remote areas. Potential options to consider are the need for:
- enhanced infrastructure investment
- geographically based coverage
- rapid deployment of temporary satellite vans.

That the Victorian Government establish long-term community awareness initiatives to ensure the public understand flood risk and actions. Successful bushfire awareness campaigns could be used as a basis for such initiatives.

That the Victorian Government increase funding for training of volunteers to boost the capacity of State Emergency Service units and Shepparton and Echuca and Moama Search and Rescue squads to respond during emergencies.

To improve the management and distribution of sandbags during a flood event, that the Victorian Government:
- ensure that there is sufficient supply quantity of sandbags available for preparation for floods in a wet year.
- assess the benefits of a coordinated sandbag management system in Victoria. This system could include capacity for scalable sandbagging stations and address resource gaps in high-risk flood areas.
- ensure that emergency management plans are regularly updated to reflect current resource and logistical capabilities.
- explore options for supplementing reliance on sandbags with innovative new products such as floodgates or water inflated barriers.

That the Victorian Government develop a strategic rescue plan in areas at high risk of flooding, so that they have appropriate resources and expertise for rescues during a crisis event. This plan should include consideration of procurement, expansion of reserve caches and processes for rapid deployment of resources.

That the Victorian Government, in collaboration with the Victoria State Emergency Service, review its approach to evacuation warnings to identify opportunities for improvement and increased community responsiveness.

That the Victorian Government and the Victoria State Emergency Service work with:
a. New South Wales to finalise the MOU that has been initiated, and to make it publicly available
b. South Australian counterparts to initiate and establish a MOU or other mechanisms for cross-border cooperation in relation to shared emergency events, and to make this publicly available.

That the Victoria State Emergency Service undertake a strategic review of its resources, leadership and personnel allocation. This review should focus on enhancing communication systems, ensuring adequate availability of essential resources like rescue equipment, and implementing robust volunteer recruitment processes, support and training programs.

That the Victorian Government increase funding and support for the Victoria State Emergency Service to enable a comprehensive upgrade of emergency communication technologies, ensure a steady supply of critical response resources, and expand volunteer recruitment and retention programs, thereby bolstering the agency’s capability to manage and respond to emergencies effectively.

That the Victorian Government ensure that incident control centres include a mechanism for local expertise to be included in their operations and help inform processes to assist managing localised warnings and response.

That the Victorian Government increase funding to Shepparton and Echuca and Moama Search and Rescue squads to ensure optimal response capabilities in future emergencies.

That the Victorian Government, working with local councils, establish statewide operating guidelines for Emergency Relief Centres. These guidelines should include protocols on rapid activation, streamlined communication and resource mobilisation. Local councils should remain empowered to tailor protocols to meet local needs.

In line with Recommendation 58, that the Victorian Government, working with local councils, investigate options for emergency funding arrangements to assist operating Emergency Relief Centres and include these arrangements in statewide operating guidelines.

That the Victorian Government plan and resource recovery hubs (including online access) sufficiently to fulfil their role in long-term community recovery and resilience building.

That the Victorian Government simplify the application process for disaster recovery funding. This could include reducing paperwork, providing hands-on assistance and investigating technology to streamline processes.

That the Victorian Government evaluate the criteria and funding arrangements for financial assistance post-disaster with a view to:
a. better aligning support with costs of recovery
b. proposing options for quickly deploying support mechanisms according to the scale and complexity of the event.

That the Victorian Government review its framework for providing housing support following an environmental disaster. In particular, the Government should assess the application system to ensure that genuinely affected households are provided support in a timelier manner and to mitigate the risk of fraudulent claims.

That the Victorian Government recognise caravan parks as essential businesses in disaster-prone areas as providers of housing and emergency support and ensure support is available (including grants) under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to caravan park operators, including those operating on Crown Land.

That the Victorian Government, noting that repair of natural environment is often overlooked in disaster recovery, assess and make funding available for natural environment and restoration.

To assist with ongoing clean-up of flood-affected areas following disasters, that the Victorian Government establish a dedicated financial support program for local businesses involved in debris removal and restoration efforts. This should include reimbursement mechanisms for businesses, such as earthmoving companies, that contributed equipment and personnel to the clean-up but suffered significant financial losses doing so.

That the Victorian Government pay its bills on time, especially following natural disasters.

That the Victorian Government work to support better collaboration between local communities, contractors, and government agencies, ensuring swift deployment of additional human resources for efficient post-disaster clean-up efforts.

That the Victorian Government collaborate with local authorities and community groups to develop and implement a debris management strategy and ensure that it aligns with broader disaster management plans as part of future-proofing for environmental events.

That the Victorian Government develop community-based initiatives and resource-sharing mechanisms, fostering resilience and solidarity among towns facing challenges from environmental disasters. These should ensure timely and effective responses to future crises, leveraging collective strength and kindness to aid in the recovery process.

That the Victorian Government provide long-term funding contracts for mental health services in flood-affected regions, with a focus to securing dedicated mental health professionals and effective service delivery in communities impacted by natural disasters.

That following the outcomes of the House of Representatives’ Inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims, the Victorian Government advocate to the Commonwealth Government that it take action to ensure that residents and businesses in flood-affected areas can obtain and maintain necessary insurance.

That the Victorian Government’s response to this Inquiry identifies the responsible authorities for each recommendation and provides a timeframe for action and reports back to Parliament on progress made implementing the recommendations.

The Government should:
(a) provide additional support to the Gippsland Arson Prevention Program; and
(b) support the establishment of arson prevention programs of this type in other bushfire‑prone regions within Victoria, and involve both community and government agencies.

The Government introduce an amendment to the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 or other instruments which imposes significant penalties and strengthens enforcement, including via infringement notices, for offences against Total Fire Ban requirements before the 2017‑2018 fire season.

That Government provide support in the form of funding for the Return to the Firestick project, and that a formal pilot scheme be established where data can be collected, collated and analysed and the effectiveness of this approach be compared against current burning practices.

That any such pilot program ought to be managed by the relevant indigenous organisations, with support provided by DELWP and its partner agencies and the development and the evaluation of any pilot program should be overseen by an independent and reputable academic or research institution.

That in conjunction with a risk‑based approach, a minimum hectare target is also maintained that can be measured and compared. This minimum target should not be below the 5% target established by the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.

That fire managers responsible for planned burns be
indemnified against any and all actions in the event of damage caused by an escape of the planned burn, on the basis of a ‘good faith’ test.

That the Government conduct a review of fire prevention
activities undertaken by local government, including the amounts and sources of funding for such activities and the support of departments and agencies to manage and mitigate risk. The review should include determining compliance with
s43 of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and should consider the appropriate support required to enable Councils to meet their obligations under the Act.

That a review of the cross‑tenure approach be undertaken to determine its effectiveness and to address issues that arise in fire prevention on private and public land.

That issues of animal welfare be given a higher practical priority in the planned burning process on the ground, including:
(a) Veterinarians and Wildlife volunteers (animal rescue teams) should be consulted before and during planned burns to reduce or remove the risk to native animals where possible, and to assist in tending injured wildlife (including euthanasia where necessary); and
(b) Wildlife volunteers (animal rescue teams) be given access to the fireground as soon as it is safe to assist injured animals.

DELWP and its partner agencies, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, should undertake research into the specific effects on health of people affected by planned burns and the information should be made public. The study should include the direct impact of smoke on affected populations and impacts on water, food supplies and livestock.

In order to manage a reduced time window available to undertake the current types of planned burns, alternative methods, including the indigenous mosaic ‘cool’ burns, should be examined and trialled as they may extend the period in which planned burns can be undertaken while reducing overall risk and fuel loads.

In keeping with the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s findings and recommendations, human life has primacy in bushfire‑related regulations and it is important that this is maintained in the implementation of bushfire management overlays and relevant vegetation removal exemptions should reflect the primacy of human life.

A revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy is needed and should clearly articulate the principles, roles and responsibilities for the ownership, management and ongoing maintenance of Victoria’s levees. Neither land tenure nor prior government involvement will dictate ownership of public levees:
• the beneficiary pays principle will determine ownership and management;
• outside Melbourne, the ownership of, and responsibility for, the management and ongoing maintenance of all urban levees, including modern urban levees created under formal schemes, is assigned to local councils;
• in all other non‐metropolitan areas, CMAs are confirmed as the responsible authority for the management and ongoing maintenance of priority rural levee systems, where such levees, (a) have clearly identified beneficiaries who are willing to fund ongoing maintenance, and (b) are located, at least in part, on public land;
• in situations where there is a clear benefit and the majority of stakeholders are in agreement, consideration should be given to a special charge scheme, as determined by the Water Act 1989 (section 196); and
• privately built rural levees on private land remain owned and managed by the landholder.

The revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should provide a strategic framework for the management and ongoing maintenance of Victoria’s levees. The Victoria Flood Management Strategy will provide criteria for a consistent statewide approach to the prioritisation of the state’s levees for future management and investment:
• as part of their revised Regional Flood Strategies, CMAs will identify and prioritise levees within their catchments;
• that the Statements of Obligations for CMAs under the Water Act 1989 be amended to reflect these assigned roles and responsibilities; and
• prioritisation will be underpinned by the beneficiary pays principle.

All priority public levees not currently the subject of approved schemes, will become subject to approved schemes under Division 5, Part 10 of the Water Act 1989. Such schemes will articulate an agreed set of terms, including:
• the public authority with ownership and management responsibilities for the levee;
• the beneficiaries of the levee;
• clear standards and expectations for the levee’s performance and its maintenance;
• where appropriate, a rationale for the rating of beneficiaries for ongoing maintenance; and
• all ad hoc township levees deemed to be permanent priority levees must be brought under an approved scheme.

Where a levee has been identified as low priority, and beneficiaries are not willing to contribute to its maintenance, public authorities will inform levee beneficiaries that they will not fund the repair of their levee following a flood event.

Responsible authorities will identify low priority levees for potential removal, and have them removed when funding becomes available.

Streamlined processes to enable access to levees for the purposes of conducting works, including maintenance, must be implemented. Where a levee is managed by a public authority as part of a formal scheme, and is sited on either private land, or on a mixture of public and private land, access to private land for works will be negotiated as part of any scheme agreement. Where a levee is sited on public land, but is not managed by a public authority, local beneficiaries willing to conduct maintenance will be given access to do so, provided:
• the public land manager and beneficiaries reach agreement on types of access and upgrading or maintenance works to be performed, and the limits to such access; and
• the land manager consults with the floodplain manager to ensure reasonable standards are adhered to – modification of the levee will require a permit.
If required, legislation, such as the National Parks Act 1975, be amended to allow access to public lands by local landholders.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop guidelines for streamlining the permitting system for conducting works on levees for incorporation in the revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy, in order for maintenance on all levees to occur more quickly. The guidelines will outline circumstances in which exemptions from current approval processes are appropriate. Councils will be permitted to obtain exemptions within their planning schemes for:
• the construction of appropriately designed rural ring levees around private assets;
• maintenance works on existing levee banks that do not exceed the original height of the levee, or alter the footprint of the levee; and
• where exemptions are granted, councils will ensure that an inspection regime remains to ensure new levees do not adversely impact others, and are not raised above their original height. The state government to also consider changing the referral role of CMAs under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, to that of an advisory role.

The funding model for works on levees and their ongoing maintenance be revised, to be primarily based on the beneficiary pays principle. The state government should give consideration to wholly funding, or contributing to, the initial upgrade of high priority levees to an agreed standard. The construction of any new public levees will be the subject of a cost‐benefit analysis to be undertaken by DSE and the public authority, and be supported by a floodplain management study. Levees deemed low priority will be wholly the responsibility of the beneficiaries.

A regular inspection and maintenance regime will be undertaken for all high priority levees managed by a public authority. All such levees will be inspected by the relevant public authority on an annual basis, and after a flood event. All levees will have a regular maintenance schedule.

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment continue to invest in the auditing of Victoria’s levee systems, both public and private, so that the Victoria Flood Database contains reliable and up to date data, including information on levees’ location, height, condition and ongoing viability for flood protection.

The current technical guidelines for the construction of levee systems will be reviewed. A revised Levee Design, Construction and Maintenance technical guidelines will include guidelines for the construction of both priority public levees, and private levees on private land, such as ring levees, which protect key assets. These guidelines will be made available to all rural councils, who will make landowners constructing new levees on their property aware of the principles and specifications contained in the guidelines and encourage construction based on them.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment to review ownership of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water’s Yarriambiack Creek levee, with a view to the appointment of a more suitable public managing authority/authorities.

In consultation with local communities, local councils will develop flood response plans as subplans to their current Municipal Emergency Management Plans. As part of the flood risk assessment process, these plans will be informed by the best available flood mapping and modelling, and will identify agreed activities to be undertaken during floods including, where appropriate, the construction of temporary levees. The condition of levees will be incorporated into such plans to enable improved emergency response.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop guidelines for the management of levees in emergencies, during and after a flood event, which can be incorporated into local flood response plans. The department will also provide, as part of these guidelines, a set of criteria for assessing the ongoing viability of ad hoc levees post‐flood. The Emergency Management Act 1986 will be amended to support the implementation of these guidelines. A more effective means for councils to remove illegal levees will also be examined by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Where flood investigations show positive and cost effective outcomes, infrastructure providers, such as VicRoads, will consider enhancing their infrastructure to act as levees. Any development of this nature will require collaboration with, and the approval of, the relevant floodplain authorities.

The state government will work with Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and stakeholders to determine ongoing ownership and associated responsibilities for redundant channel infrastructure in the Wimmera and the Mallee.

The Victorian Government should work with the New South Wales Government and the Murray Darling Basin Authority to establish an appropriate floodplain management committee and to develop a floodplain management strategy for the Murray River. The strategy will define priority regions for the development of floodplain management plans, address ways of improving the management of all levees on the Murray River, and seek agreement in relation to improved approvals processes, levee heights and maintenance regimes.

The Victorian Government to implement the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review in relation to the development and implementation of appropriate flood mitigation and protection strategies for essential services.

When developing flood mitigation options in lowland areas, local governments should give consideration to the use of temporary levees as an alternative or addition to permanent structures. To maximise the use of these structures and limit flood damage, and aid affordability, consideration should be given by local governments to the sharing of temporary levees among different townships and different council areas.

A revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should identify and assign roles and responsibilities for the management and ongoing maintenance of Victoria’s waterways, for the purposes of flood protection and flood mitigation:
• CMAs are confirmed as the responsible authority for the management and ongoing maintenance of waterways, including vegetation management, for the purposes of flood protection; and
• CMAs will negotiate with landholders, councils and other authorities, and conduct agreed flood mitigation works on the basis of beneficiary pays.

The role of flood risk management planning rests with CMAs and Melbourne Water (under the Water Act 1989), and is a shared responsibility with local government. Shared responsibilities for flood risk management planning and implementation will be consistently reflected in government policy.

The revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should clearly articulate the policy guidelines for the management of vegetation and debris in Victorian waterways, for the purposes of flood protection and mitigation, taking into account the localised potential flooding effects of in‐stream vegetation in townships.
To that end:
• the Victoria Flood Management Strategy will provide flood risk criteria for identifying specific reaches of rivers and streams that require ongoing vegetation management and maintenance, and to be subject to a revised permitting system;
• in their Regional Flood Strategies, CMAs will identify specific reaches of rivers and streams in their catchments, that require ongoing vegetation management and maintenance, and to be subject to a revised permitting system;
• each CMA will develop an In‐stream Management Policy to clarify responsibilities for the management of all waterways, including vegetation management. This will clearly articulate the circumstances under which the CMA will approve the removal of vegetation. This policy to be reviewed every three years; and
• where appropriate CMAs will develop agreements with local regional councils.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment should develop guidelines for streamlining the permitting system for works on waterways for incorporation in the revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy. An exemption process will be introduced, with particular application to identified reaches of rivers and streams that require ongoing vegetation management and maintenance:
• that government will amend the Victorian Planning Provisions to create a new exemption for native vegetation removal under clause 52.17, for the purpose of ‘flood protection’; and
• Catchment management authorities will amend their respective ‘Works on Waterways’ bylaws to reflect these changes.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop a code of practice on the removal of vegetation around critical public assets, in consultation with councils, CMAs and asset managers. Regional Flood Strategies will support this code of practice as part of shared flood risk management planning.

Significant modification of waterways in urban or rural areas will only be considered after the completion of a flood risk management process, undertaken in consultation with members of the community.

The revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should clearly identify authorities and assign responsibilities for stream blockage and debris removal in waterways posing a high risk to public infrastructure both during and after a flood:
• in the aftermath of a flood event, CMAs, in liaison with local councils, will manage debris posing a high risk to public infrastructure;
• the In‐stream Management Policy of CMAs will guide the post‐flood management of debris affecting the assets of private owner beneficiaries;
• DSE will review the woody debris removal practices of CMAs and develop new management guidelines; and
• engagement with stakeholders, including councils and landholders will take place prior to any large scale removal of woody weeds, such as willows, is undertaken by CMAs.

Local knowledge on the management and ongoing maintenance of waterways, including vegetation clearing and debris removal, needs to be incorporated in the development of regional flood mitigation strategies and local flood plans. Specifically:
• the process of flood risk assessment must include community consultation, and these views will inform development of both floodplain management studies, and floodplain implementation plans;
• in the absence of a formal planning process, councils and authorities undertaking significant ad hoc works on waterways for flood mitigation and protection must involve the local community; and
• the revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy and Victorian River Health Strategy will clearly articulate this process.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop clear policy for the coordinated management of rural drainage, clarifying the legal framework, and identifying authorities with responsibility for the management and ongoing maintenance of formal schemes, and their development:
• where appropriate, an expedited approvals process for works be applied in line with recommendation 5.4; and
• a central component of policy will be the principle of beneficiary pays.

Within the jurisdiction of Melbourne Water, it shares with local councils the responsibility to manage local drainage systems as outlined under the Water Act 1989 and the Local Government Act 1989 respectively:
• Melbourne Water, in conjunction with metropolitan councils, will undertake an audit of drainage infrastructure to identify drains that are not currently managed by a public authority; and
• following this audit Melbourne Water will work with relevant councils to develop best practice models for the management of the drainage asset.

Flood studies will be undertaken to determine the flood extent on the basis of a greater than 1 in 100 ARI, where appropriate:
• The Water Act 1989 to be amended.

The state government give consideration to enacting legislation to provide protection from legal liability for public authorities conducting works on priority levees in good faith, acting reasonably and responsibly in the public interest, and in accordance with standards agreed to under approved schemes. Public authorities should not be excluded from liability if they have acted negligently.

That statements of obligations, issued under the Water Industry Act 1994 for water authorities, be amended to include a provision whereby managing authorities must:
• make available to the public information designed to inform and educate local communities, particularly those communities living downstream of water storages ‐ this information will relate to dam operations, the rules governing those operations, and the capacity, or lack thereof, of storage infrastructure to provide protection in the event of major flooding; and
• ensure this information forms part of an ongoing program of interaction with local communities, to be conducted at a minimum of every two years, and providing community members with the opportunity to raise questions, discuss issues, and be informed on current dam operations.

The state government accept recommendations 25 to 28, inclusive, of the Victorian Floods Review.

The state government implement the Victorian Floods Review recommendation 8, to review the flood gauging network. As part of the review, consideration should also be given to the use of portable telemetered river gauges, and to the replacement of manual gauges with telemetered gauges over time and where appropriate.

The state government establish a well coordinated and formalised system for the reading of river gauges by local people, including flood wardens. Furthermore, the knowledge of local people in predicting flood heights and impacts should be considered by emergency management agencies when predicting floods.

The state government review the current funding approach used for the operation, maintenance and upgrade of river gauges, with a view to improving the river gauge network.

The state government implement the Victorian Floods Review recommendation 10 in relation to the datums used to describe river and stream heights.

Public authorities such as councils and CMAs should continue to seek local knowledge in relation to flood management issues. In particular, councils will collaborate with VICSES and other key stakeholders in reviewing the system of flood wardens. Roles and responsibilities of flood wardens, and the process for their recruitment, should be formalised and clearly articulated in relevant flood management plans.

The state government should provide core, ongoing funding to the responsible authority for the FloodSafe community education program. Funding should be provided for education about prevention, response and recovery phases and include information on rates notices about the height of particular floods.

The state government should implement the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review in relation to the creation of resilience committees and resilience plans, with responsible authorities.

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment implement remote sensing imagery as a routine part of its pre-burn and post-burn assessment process for prescribed burning. Maps of every prescribed burn should be produced in a similar format to those used in Western Australia, indicating the boundary of each burn and the varying fire intensities achieved within the burn area. The boundaries of all Fuel Management Zones within each burn should also be indicated.
Each prescribed burn map should be made publicly available on the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website, together with a map of the same burn area which shows the pre-burn fuel hazard levels and a statement of the total area treated within each Fuel Management Zone by each prescribed burn.

That in order to enhance the protection of community and ecological assets, the Department of Sustainability and Environment increase its annual prescribed burning target from 130,000 hectares to 385,000 hectares. This should be treated as a rolling target, with any shortfalls to be made up in subsequent years.

A comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the increased prescribed burning target in meeting ecological and bushfire suppression needs should be conducted every three years.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment should report its performance against the increased prescribed burning target in its annual report, which should also include the following details:
- the total area treated within each fuel management zone for each region;
- the total number of burns conducted within each fuel management zone for each region; and
- the extent to which planned ecological and fuel reduction outcomes were met for prescribed burns within each fuel management zone for each region (e.g. a summary of the results of the post-burn assessments to be conducted in accordance with recommendation 2.3 above).

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Parks Victoria & VicForests separately cost, and report, annual expenditure on fuel reduction burning, ecological burning and regeneration burning in their Annual Reports.

That the Victorian Government establish a five year rolling fund which allows unused prescribed burning monies to be rolled over into future financial years for the purpose of subsequent prescribed burning activities.

That the Victorian Government provide recurring funding for a significant increase in regionally-based, permanent, or long-tenured, fire management personnel dedicated to the prescribed burning program. The increase in personnel should be consistent with the level required to achieve an annual prescribed burning target of 385,000 hectares.
The pool of available personnel should be suitably diverse and possess a wide variety of disciplines and skill sets, including practical skills. The Department of Sustainability and Environment and its partner agencies should also increase the proportion of personnel with specialist tertiary qualifications, including fire behaviour specialists, forest scientists, landscape ecologists and conservation biologists.
The Department of Environment and Sustainability and its partner agencies should also prioritise the development of programs to reduce the level of staff turnover and the problem of the ageing workforce, through more effective succession planning.

That the Victorian Government replace or compensate for water taken from domestic, stock and irrigation dams, or water needed for essential use, in the event of a fire, regardless of where the bushfire starts.

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment and its partner agencies conduct or commission research, and a possible trial study, to determine the potential of thinning and other silvicultural practices – whether alone or in combination with prescribed burning – as a means of reducing fuel loads and as a bushfire management strategy in Victoria’s forests.

That the Victorian Government expedite the implementation of its 2006 election commitment to provide four wheel drive clubs with access to management vehicle only tracks.

That the Victorian Government consider all available means, consistent with conservation values, for substantially increasing the access of apiarists to the public land estate.

That in relation to Fire Operations Plans, the Department Sustainability and Environment extends the number of community meetings during the public consultation period to a minimum of one meeting for each Fire District, with the possibility of repeat visits to particular areas.

That finalised Fire Operations Plans be made publicly available in their entirety (with the exception of any private information) on the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website and in hard-copy, and that this requirement be clearly stated in future Codes of Practice. This should include the “district burns list”, or its future equivalents, and a map which shows the corresponding burns for each Fire District. Each map should be provided in a format which can be downloaded directly from the Department’s website without the need for further data manipulation by the user. An identical hardcopy version of the map for each Fire District should be also be available to members of the public on request and free of charge.

That the details of any variation or amendment of a Fire Operations Plan, including: the carrying forward or postponement of burns within the three-year period covered by a Fire Operations Plan; the carry over, removal or rescheduling of burns between past, present and future Fire Operations Plans; and the alteration of burn boundaries (including alterations of less than 25 per cent); should appear on the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website at the time of the change and be included in the Fire Operations Plan for the following year.

That all information pertaining to current and planned prescribed burns be published more prominently on the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s website, with a single prominent link to this material on the website homepage.

That a process of year round community engagement in the preparation of Fire Operations Plans be established. In addition a record of year round community engagement, as contained in the Gippsland Fire Operations Plan, should be a requirement of all Fire Operations Plans.

That the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework establish zones in the interface between public and private land in which bushfire risk management is the shared responsibility of the Victorian Government and private landholders.

That the Victorian Government establish a clear and consistent Bushfire Fencing Policy for damage caused by all future bushfires and prescribed burns. The Bushfire Fencing Policy should include the following provisions:
- the Government contribute half the cost of replacing or repairing for fencing on the boundary between public and private land that is destroyed or damaged by a fire which has emerged from public land, but only where the cost of replacement or repair was not otherwise recoverable;
- the Government pay a contribution, of up to 100 per cent, of the cost of restoring fences or other assets destroyed or damaged by backburning conducted during fire suppression operations;
- the Government will pay the full cost of fences or other assets destroyed or damaged if prescribed burns on public land escape onto private land;
- the Government will pay the full cost of rehabilitation of fire control lines on private property established by the Country Fire Authority or the Department of Sustainability and Environment during wildfire suppression activity for fire originating on public land ; and
- the Government will pay the full cost of repairing or replacing fences on private land that are damaged or destroyed by machinery used in controlling bushfires that originate on public land.

That the Victorian Government, and responsible agencies, expedite the implementation of the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework.
That the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework integrate, as far as possible, fire management planning at the municipal level with both Fire Protection Plans (or their future equivalents) and Fire Operations Plans.

That the Department of Sustainability and Environment and its partner agencies continue to develop a proactive approach to engagement with the local and wider media to achieve continuous improvement in the standard of community information and education.

The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board continue to exist.

It is inappropriate for an emergency services provider to develop its own standards, core objectives and functions. The Committee recommends that these be the responsibility of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The Committee recommends that one standard model of fire cover be developed for Victoria as a matter of urgency.

The Committee recommends that, following the development of standards of fire cover, related standards be established for:
• Location of buildings;
• Selection of equipment;
• Identification of manpower resources;
• Training.

The Committee recommends that collocation shall occur unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Minister that it is inappropriate.

The Committee recommends that performance monitoring standards be established, reviewed and maintained through a common reporting system by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The Committee recommends that the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services seek common national fire standards.

The Committee recommends to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services that a joint communications and dispatch facility be established under the Minister's control to implement the following minimum services to the Victoria Police and the emergency services:
• Call receipt and dispatch facilities at three common sites throughout Victoria with 000 being the prime emergency response number;
• A central database facility;
• Geographic Information Systems;
• Call Line Identification;
• Automatic Vehicle Location; and
• Mobile Data Terminals.

That the cost of a Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications centre be recovered through user charges.

The Committee recommends that the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications Centre extend its services as a commercial venture to smaller government agencies who could not develop such a dedicated system.

The Committee recommends that the Government act urgently to make the existing system of funding the fire services fair and equitable to all Victorians.

The Committee recommends that an equitable funding system be implemented which relates premiums to:
• Risk covered; and
• Standard of Fire Cover.

The Committee recommends that any change to the funding system reflect in a reduction of the total price charged to consumers through premiums by the insurance industry.

The Committee recommends that:
• The Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board extend it role to include emergency medical response.
• The Emergency response component of all Victorian Ambulance services report to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board remain a statutory authority.

The Committee recommends that a new Board be appointed, consisting of nine members nominated by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and including the Chief Executive Officer who shall not be Chairman.

The Committee recommends that the FireVision concept used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be extended through the Directorate of School Education's Interactive Television Program to all emergency services and in particular to rural fire and emergency services.

The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be reviewed five years from the tabling of this report in Parliament.

The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board continue to exist.

It is inappropriate for an emergency services provider to develop its own standards, core objectives and functions. The Committee recommends that these be the responsibility of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The Committee recommends that one standard model of fire cover be developed for Victoria as a matter of urgency.

The Committee recommends that, following the development of standards of fire cover, related standards be established for:
• Location of buildings;
• Selection of equipment;
• Identification of manpower resources;
• Training.

The Committee recommends that collocation shall occur unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Minister that it is inappropriate.

The Committee recommends that the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services seek common national fire standards.

The Committee recommends to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services that a joint communications and dispatch facility be established under the Minister's control to implement the following minimum services to the Victoria Police and the emergency services:
• Call receipt and dispatch facilities at three common sites throughout Victoria with 000 being the prime emergency response number;
• A central database facility;
• Geographic Information Systems;
• Call Line Identification;
• Automatic Vehicle Location; and
• Mobile Data Terminals.

That the cost of a Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications centre be recovered through user charges.

The Committee recommends that the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications Centre extend its services as a commercial venture to smaller government agencies who could not develop such a dedicated system.

The Committee recommends that the Government act urgently to make the existing system of funding the fire services fair and equitable to all Victorians.

The Committee recommends that an equitable funding system be implemented which relates premiums to:
• Risk covered; and
• Standard of Fire Cover.

The Committee recommends that any change to the funding system reflect in a reduction of the total price charged to consumers through premiums by the insurance industry.

The Committee recommends that:
• The Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board extend it role to include emergency medical response.
• The Emergency response component of all Victorian Ambulance services report to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board remain a statutory authority.

The Committee recommends that a new Board be appointed, consisting of nine members nominated by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and including the Chief Executive Officer who shall not be Chairman.

The Committee recommends that the FireVision concept used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be extended through the Directorate of School Education's Interactive Television Program to all emergency services and in particular to rural fire and emergency services.

The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be reviewed five years from the tabling of this report in Parliament.