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Floodplains support:

  • food and energy production
  • transport and infrastructure
  • recreation
  • biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

Rivers, wetlands, floodplains and the ocean are also important for many fish species to complete their life cycles. Flooding delivers long-term benefits to soils and agricultural production. Flooding also helps exchange nutrients between habitats.

Floods are important to Traditional Owners because they are essential for cultural, spiritual, and social practices, influencing language, ceremonies, and connections to Country.

Managing floods in Victoria

Managing floods involves 3 main types of activities:

  • prevention or mitigation which involves work before a flood
  • response activities during a flood
  • recovery actions taken after a flood.

Management of floods and floodplains involves several groups including:

  • relevant authorities
  • local councils
  • emergency services
  • traditional owner groups including Registered Aboriginal Parties
  • the community.

The role of governments in flood management

The Australian Government is responsible for:

  • national flood management programs
  • flood forecasting.

The Victorian Government is responsible for:

  • state flood policy, strategy, guidelines and investment programs
  • funding and supporting regional floodplain management planning, including regional floodplain management strategies and flood studies undertaken by CMAs and Melbourne Water
  • maintaining the legislative and policy framework that supports the provision of flood information and advice by floodplain management authorities updating flood-related planning and building controls through the relevant minister.

Floodplain management authorities—including Melbourne Water and the nine regional catchment management authorities—are responsible for leading flood modelling and associated community engagement. They provide the best-available technical flood advice to responsible planning authorities, emergency services, and communities.

As climate conditions, land use and available data change over time, flood studies will be periodically reviewed and updated by floodplain managers to ensure decisions are informed by the best available information.

Local councils are generally responsible for:

  • providing knowledge, data, and information to inform flood studies
  • decisions on local flood mitigation measures and priorities
  • managing, operating and maintaining local flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure.
  • developing local planning policy and assessing planning permits
  • undertaking municipal emergency planning, preparedness, relief and recovery coordination
  • enforcing both the planning and building systems.

See Guidance Note: Floodplain Management Responsibilities for more detail including transitional arrangements for active flood studies and planning scheme amendments that are in progress.

Landowners and flood management

You are accountable for flood management on your own property. Local knowledge and experience can play a key role in flood preparation and reduce damage from flooding.

Flood risk mapping is available for many high-risk urban areas in Victoria. It is not available for the entire state including many rural areas. Where available, flood risk mapping can assist with planning for floods and can be found on the Digital Twin Victoria platform or by contacting your Local Council or relevant Catchment Management Authority.

State Emergency Management Plan

The State Emergency Management Plan describes the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in flood prevention, response and recovery.

You can find out more by visiting the Emergency Management Victoria website.

Page last updated: 21/10/26