I welcome the decision by the National Emergency Medal Committee that emergency responders who assisted during the February-March 2022 floods in northern New South Wales and South East Queensland are now eligible to apply for the National Emergency Medal.
However, I am very disappointed that emergency responders from the Hawkesbury, who have stepped up time and time again in the last four years, have not been included in the decision.
I have written to the Assistant to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman MP, and to Premier Chris Minns to express my dismay on behalf of the community, and seek clarification as to why emergency responders from our community are not eligible to apply.
From March to October 2022, the Hawkesbury experienced four significant floods.
The March and July 2022 floods were the most profound the Hawkesbury has experienced in decades, breaking 40 or 50 year old records for both height and duration. April and October were of shorter duration, but added to the workload of emergency volunteers.
At Windsor, the March 2022 flood was the largest since 1978 – since exceeded by the July 2022 flood peak. At Sackville, the July 2022 flood was the highest since 1964.
For both floods, a large-scale emergency response was necessary including deployment of SES, ADF and volunteers.
The March floodwaters were above 8 metres for 10 days and above 10 metres for 8 days, which is the longest duration recorded since the 1970s. In July, the floodwaters remained above 8 metres for 6 days.
Roads were flooded, bridges closed, and local ferry services were suspended, causing isolation of suburbs and villages for an extended period of time.
The SES was involved in rescues, evacuating people from isolated properties and resupply, facing the dangers of travelling by vessel across a flooded plain.
When the waters fell, private property, business, agriculture and council infrastructure and assets were all impacted.
Our community understands firsthand the damage and devastation floods bring, having now experienced eight floods of varying intensity in the past four years.
I’m glad the extraordinary efforts of the emergency responders across 21 Local Government Areas impacted by floods will be recognised.
It is my view that the impact of the floods and efforts of my community during the four flood events from March to October 2022 merit inclusion for the National Emergency Medal.
I will continue to advocate for the recognition of the frontline emergency responders, volunteers, and community support workers who bravely served our community.
ENDS
