Maribyrnong is an inner-city suburb along the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north-west of Melbourne's CBD.

We, the residents of Maribyrnong and surrounding areas, are deeply concerned about the ongoing impact of flooding on our homes, community and environment. The most recent flood on October 14th, 2022, affected over 572 properties, 6+ businesses and numerous community groups. An estimated 1300 impacted residents are still experiencing displacement, navigating repairs to their properties and processing emotional trauma. 

Image of Maribyrnong in 1974 during the major flooding

Image of Maribyrnong in 2022 during the major flooding

It is unacceptable that despite the Australian Government spending $23.99 billion on Disaster Relief over the past 17 years, only $0.51 billion has been spent on Disaster Resilience. The economic impact of disasters in Australia exceeds $38 billion per year, representing 2% of our GDP. It is clear that investing in mitigation measures will ultimately save money in the long run, as the tangible costs associated with the October 14th flood alone are estimated to exceed $210 million.

Image of water levels in Maribyrnong township close to the height of street signs, whilst the opposite bank remains dry

We call on the Government and local authorities to take immediate action to address the root causes of these floods and to implement effective flood prevention measures. Including:

1. Investing in upstream mitigation measures to reduce the impact of future extreme weather events. i.e., Arundel retarding basin.
2. Improving and upgrading infrastructure such as drainage systems and levees to better manage and redirect floodwaters.
3. The establishment of an early warning system to give residents adequate time to prepare and protect their homes.

We also recognise the long-term impact that the flood has had on the mental health of residents. Residents are faced with processing grief and loss amongst the acute stress of being displaced immediately during a crisis post flood. There is a loss of routine, control over one’s home, possessions and social support, and all these challenges present physical and psychosocial health implications for individuals over the developmental lifespan, from children to the elderly (Tapsell et al. 2002). Many residents are first and second-generation immigrants, who have experienced previous displacement and for them, the experience of the flood can be re-traumatising and contribute to cumulative impacts of trauma and poor mental health.

The sheer volume of hard waste, debris and slurry left behind by the flooding is overwhelming with Maribyrnong council publishing that it has collected 160 tonnes of mud and slurry, 120,000 cubic metres of debris and 6,000 cubic metres of hard waste. This figure excludes additional building materials stripped out by insurance.

Image of flood damaged furniture and personal belongings lining the streets

Please share this petition with your friends and family and encourage them to sign it to show their support. When natural disasters like this happen we all pay the price through increased insurance premiums. Together, we can make a difference and stop the Maribyrnong floods from damaging our homes.

Additional details can be found at https://maribyrnongfloods.com/