Community Recovery Committee review

Published on 20 March 2024

A review of Council’s Community Recovery Committee – created to support recovery following the October 2022 flood – has been undertaken, with Council endorsing a number of recommendations to meet the ongoing needs of impacted residents.

In October 2022, there was a major flood of the Maribyrnong River, which saw over 500 residents, businesses and community organisations impacted.

As the responsible authority for coordinating recovery at the municipal level, and recognising recovery is best informed by those who have been impacted by the emergency, Council set up a Community Recovery Committee structure and Terms of Reference to support community recovery.

“The Community Recovery Committee has played an integral role in providing advice and support to Council to develop recovery programs and initiatives to support residents impacted by the flood. After eight months of operation, it was timely for Council to undertake a review of the Community Recovery Committee to ensure it was effectively supporting the recovery process,” Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam said.

“The review recommends the continuation of the Community Recovery Committee, the appointment of an independent chair to act as a facilitator and advisor to both community members and Council officers, for additional community members to be recruited, and for the Terms of Reference to be negotiated and agreed by the new Committee,” Mayor Lam continued.

While a number of original community members are continuing their position on the Committee, we are looking for a number of new Committee members to join us.

We are particularly looking for people who are new to the suburb of Maribyrnong to give their perspectives on how agencies can work with the community to better prepare and for anyone who experiences challenges preparing and responding to flood due to a disability.

“Council remains committed to working alongside community in their recovery journey. We also acknowledge we are only one part of the puzzle, and that State Government and other agencies also have a significant role to play.

“We highlighted a number of areas for improvement for preparedness and response through our submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry to the 2022 Victorian Floods. The most recent report highlights there is still more work to do in the way the State Government works with communities who have been impacted by natural disasters during recovery,” Mayor Lam continued.

For more information about the review and to apply for the Community Recovery Committee, visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/flood

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