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THE NSW State Emergency Services is reviewing its response to April’s Dungog flood, which claimed the lives of three people.
The Newcastle Herald reported on a range of serious concerns about the effectiveness of the agency’s response on Saturday.
Commissioner Adam Dent said the after-action review process would involve all levels of the agency’s response and sources of external information.
‘‘We also review our flood intelligence information after major flood events,’’ Mr Dent said.
‘‘With the last flood of this scale experienced in Dungog over 25 years ago, it is critically important to gain a more current understanding of the flood threat and adjust our planning and response to accommodate this new information.’’
The drowning deaths of Robin MacDonald, 68, Colin ‘‘Spider’’ Webb, 79, and Brian Wilson 72, are the subject of a coronial investigation.
Shadow emergency services minister Guy Zangari said he was alarmed to hear reports that Dungog residents had little or no warning of rising floodwaters.
‘‘The government must fully investigate the lead-up to this storm and ensure our emergency services – including SES volunteers – are properly resourced to avoid a repeat of the tragedies coming out of this storm,’’ he said.
NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said he looked forward to reading the SES report. ‘‘The NSW SES is reviewing its response to the flood emergency in Dungog – as it does after any major operation – and I look forward to reading its report,’’ he said.
‘‘I again thank the thousands of volunteers from all response agencies who bravely assisted their communities without thought of their safety or reward.’’
Meanwhile, Hunter Water has denied speculation damage to a valve on the Chichester trunk gravity main contributed to the flooding.
Spokesman Jeremy Bath said an investigation had shown the flood occurred prior to the pipeline being damaged.
‘‘In fact it was the flood that caused the scour valve to be removed from the [trunk gravity main],’’ Mr Bath said. ‘‘The valve was smashed by either a fence gate or a tree moving at rapid speed during a flood.’’
