After staff and patients were forced to evacuate during the devastating 2022 floods, the hospital will now gain vital protection to ensure the community is never put through that ordeal again.
Rochester will benefit from a $36.8 million joint Commonwealth and Victorian Government investment in disaster preparedness, with flood protection infrastructure among 11 projects funded across the state.
The Insurance Council of Australia praised the investment, noting that physical defences remain one of the most powerful tools to protect vulnerable areas and ease pressure on skyrocketing insurance premiums.
Insurance Council deputy chief executive Kylie Macfarlane said infrastructure was among the most effective ways to reduce flood risk and insurance premiums.
“For communities already in harm’s way, investing in hard infrastructure such as levees is the most effective way to drive down risk and pressure on premiums,” she said.
The broader funding package covers seven infrastructure projects and three resilience and risk reduction initiatives, helping communities across Victoria better prepare for natural hazards.
The Commonwealth will contribute more than $17.7 million, with the Victorian Government and other project partners contributing a further $19.1 million.
Alongside the funding announcement, the Insurance Council of Australia is calling for stricter, mandatory flood planning rules.
Following the introduction of a new flood risk rating system to guide future developments, industry leaders are calling for consistent building standards to be enforced, ensuring new homes are not constructed in high-risk flood zones.
Ms Macfarlane said consistent application of the rules would be important in keeping future homes out of high-risk areas and reducing the long-term cost of disasters.
15°C