Hon. MP Kevin Hogan, responds to Emergency Services Minister, Hon. MP Jihad Dib’s comment during his visit to Lismore last week on ABC North Coast Radio saying he is confident the Northern Rivers is “well prepared” for its next flood event.

 Federal Member for Page, MP Kevin Hogan is shocked by the Labor Minister’s comments.

“Flood mitigation is the only strategy that will give our region a sustainable and safe future. Only, once a flood mitigation strategy is implemented, would I say our community is well prepared.”

The level of flood mitigation Mr. Hogan refers to is tied up with the CSIRO findings to be released next year. Mr. Hogans belief is that we are years away from being “well prepared”.

“The CSIRO investigation will have recommendations about how we can hold water back, divert it and let water go - we need to be able to make a differrence in flood levels. That will take a couple of years.”

Mr Hogan says the community is still at risk. He wants to hear from people in the Ministers position, that until the flood mitigation is done, Lismore will still have issues.

“We suffered Australia’s biggest ever natural disaster and are feeling the consequences in our every-day life.

“Hypothetically, if the same flood was to happen in the middle of the night with little warning, what’s changed?

 “I say to the Minister while things have happened, we are far from being “well prepared” for the next flood event.”