Floods and floodplains
Floods are part of the natural water cycle. They will inevitably occur from time to time, and can be life-threatening. Even low-level flooding can damage homes and businesses, agriculture and crops.
However, floods also replenish wetlands and help sustain biological diversity, and floodplains are an important feature of the natural landscape.
They have evolved as a consequence of rivers meandering across low lying areas and depositing fertile soil and minerals.
Not only are floodplains critical to the ecological health of our rivers, some of our most productive agricultural lands are located on them. This is why most of our major towns have developed on floodplains.
Following the floods of 2010, 2011 and 2012, a work program was developed to equip the state to deal with severe flooding.
The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) is in charge of floodplain management policy and mitigation. It is working with other government agencies on major reforms to improve Victoria's resilience to severe floods.
The new initiatives will assist communities to prepare for floods by upgrading arrangements for flood response, recovery, emergency warnings and evacuations.
For a flood emergency go to the SES website or call 132500
For a life threatening emergency call 000