We need action on flood mitigation

THE HON. KEVIN HOGAN MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PAGE
SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES
Media Release
We need action on flood mitigation
The CSIRO will next week deliver the long-awaited CSIRO Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative report. The report will examine engineering options across the catchment and identify measures that could reduce future flood levels.
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the report was commissioned following the 2022 floods to move the conversation from flood recovery to flood mitigation..
“Flood mitigation is the only strategy that will deliver long-term safety and certainty for our region. Recovery efforts alone will never solve the problem.”
“Our community has waited more than three years for this work. We now need the state and federal Labor Governments to act on the recommendations to protect our region.”
“The projected costing of the mitigation recommendations from the report will be about $2 billion. The 2022 disaster alone was a $15 billion event.”
“This report cannot sit on a shelf gathering dust. The Labor state and federal governments must act on delivering recommendations that can take up to 2 metres off future floods.”
“State and Federal Governments promised new land and new housing under the Resilient Lands Program. It has failed. It will be close to six years after the disaster before a single home is delivered.”
“The buyback scheme has also failed. It’s moved half a street and left the other half there. That has done nothing to make the community any safer.”
“We’ve had enough failed programs. We need evidence-based mitigation works that can make a real difference for our region’s safety.” “We need the state and federal Labor Governments to act.”
ENDS
25 June 2026
Media:
Kevin Hogan: 0428 291 307
Immy Cook: 0419 821 142