Photo: Renmark Hospital Levee – Credit Grant Schwartzkopff
A sweeping natural disaster can leave lasting scars on the hearts and homes of its victims. The River Murray flood, which occurred during 2022-23, did just that. Now, as the waters recede and homes start to rebuild, South Australians are being invited to share their tales of survival, loss, and resilience.
A month ago, a Parliamentary inquiry was established into the River Murray floods. The primary goal? To harvest learnings from the floods, and equip South Australia to better cope with such disasters in the future.
It’s a move that might seem timely to many, especially given Emergency Services Minister, Joe Szakacs’s statement that the River Murray floods might very well be “one of the most, if not the most significant natural disaster in the state’s history”.
The destructive prowess of the flood can’t be underscored enough. Thousands of homes and businesses along the River Murray’s path felt the wrath of surging waters. The heartbreaking aftermath? An approximate 4,000 properties were left in ruins, with a majority needing comprehensive rebuilds or extensive repairs.
Leading this critical investigation is the newly appointed Chair of the Select Committee on the 2022-23 River Murray Flood Event, Shadow Minister for Water Resources and the River Murray, Dr. Nicola Centofanti. For her, this isn’t just about getting to the heart of a natural disaster; it’s about lending an ear to affected communities and businesses.
“This inquiry is important to ensure South Australia is better prepared for future flooding events,” Dr Centofanti said.
“The inquiry will be investigating key aspects of the disaster – including the roles and responsibilities at all levels of Government, the grants processes and river flow management and modelling.
“South Australia’s river communities have been under a great deal of stress and strain as a result of these floods. It is critical these communities can have confidence in the Government’s response and recovery efforts.
“Importantly, we have committed to ensuring that hearings will be held in several communities along the river corridor as well as in metropolitan Adelaide.
“It is critical that the inquiry heads out to our river communities here in South Australia to see and hear first-hand about the levee systems in place, as well as the ongoing clean up.
“I encourage any organisation or member of the public affected by the Murray River flooding event to have their say.”
One commendable decision that’s been made is to ensure hearings are accessible to the most affected. There will be sessions both in metropolitan Adelaide and communities along the river corridor.
The call to action is clear and emphatic. Whether you’re a local organisation or an individual touched by the floods, this is your moment to be heard. To have your say, written submissions and expressions for oral evidence are open until Friday, 10th November. Contributions can be emailed to [email protected] or sent via direct mail to:
Secretary to the Committee
C/- Parliament House
GPO Box 572
Adelaide 5001
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