Flood victims’ courage praised amid heart-wrenching stories
Nationals MP Gaelle Broad has praised the courage and raw honesty of flood victims appearing at yesterday’s flood inquiry hearing in Rochester.
Ms Broad said she was moved by the bravery of locals who attended the inquiry to share their personal, and at times heart-wrenching stories.
“The bravery of the people who attended was incredible, as they publicly shared their experiences of this overwhelmingly traumatic event,” Ms Broad said.
“I thank them for their input to this inquiry. I understand it was not an easy thing to do but I want them to know their stories make up a very valuable part of this process,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad is a participating member of the Parliamentary committee conducting the inquiry into the disastrous floods of October 2022.
The inquiry also heard from community organisations and recovery groups.
Rochester was arguably the worst affected by last year’s floods, with more than 800 homes either damaged or uninhabitable. Many residents are still not back in their homes 10 months after the event.
The inquiry is being conducted by the Legislative Council’s Environment and Planning Committee and has received a large number of submissions.
It will investigate factors including what caused or contributed to the floods; emergency services; government policies; flood mitigation strategies; and planning issues.
The inquiry will hold public hearings in Echuca today, August 24.