Murray flooding reviewed
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A review has stressed the need for improved River Murray flood management.
The Independent River Murray 2022-23 Flood Review Report, published this week, highlights the importance of bolstering flood forecasting and management across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
Commissioned by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, the report evaluates the response to the severe 2022-23 flood event and identifies opportunities to address future challenges posed by more extreme weather patterns.
The review acknowledges the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) efforts during one of the largest floods in decades.
According to the report, the MDBA operated major storages as required and provided essential guidance to agencies such as the Bureau of Meteorology.
Stakeholders described the MDBA’s engagement as markedly improved, citing better communication and collaboration during the crisis.
Despite these advances, the review highlights key areas requiring attention.
Collaboration between the MDBA and the Bureau of Meteorology, though functional, faced limitations once floodwaters passed Yarrawonga Weir.
The review suggests expanding inter-agency protocols to ensure seamless coordination throughout flood events.
It also calls for finalising the long-draft Flood Operations Manuals to preserve institutional knowledge and support effective decision-making in future crises.
Feedback from landholders downstream of the Hume Dam revealed ongoing dissatisfaction with flood operations, particularly regarding advance warnings of water releases. Many expressed a need for earlier and more detailed forecasts, even if such forecasts incorporate ranges or probabilities.
The review notes that improvements in technology, such as the MDBA’s upgraded Source Murray Operations Model, could enhance forecasting accuracy and communication.
Concerns about ageing infrastructure added another layer of complexity.
Assets like the Mildura Weir and Lake Victoria levees were found to be at risk during severe floods, raising questions about their resilience in future events.
The review recommends a comprehensive risk assessment of this infrastructure, with a focus on climate change implications.
The report also pointed to the challenges of measuring river flows during high water events, noting that outdated flow gauging stations and floodplain changes over decades have complicated accurate measurements.
New technologies, such as drones and remote sensing, are being explored to address these issues.
While the review praised the MDBA’s efforts to work with local councils, emergency services, and Basin state governments, it stressed the need for regular inter-agency flood simulations to strengthen readiness.
The authority says work on implementing the review’s 14 recommendations is underway, targeting improved flood preparedness, response, and recovery.
