The Victorian flood event lasted 89 days from 6 October 2022 to 3 January 2023, across 63 LGAs and one Alpine Resort Board. Flooding occurred on the lands of the Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wemba Wemba, Barkindji, Latji Latji, Taungurung and Wurundjeri peoples. This was the most significant flooding event since 2010–11, due to its extent, duration and complexity. There were significant numbers of people affected by these ongoing events. It isolated people and communities, damaged homes, disrupted essential services, disrupted and disconnected social supports and systems, and impacted mental health, wellbeing, personal property, businesses and livelihoods.

What happened

Climatic conditions meant large parts of northern and western Victoria experienced their wettest spring on record. October rainfall was the highest for any month since records began in 1900, and November rainfall was the fifth highest on record for that month.

In October 2022, a low-pressure system brought heavy rainfall and storms. Already high rivers, creeks and sodden catchments had little capacity to absorb the rain. From 13 to 14 October parts of Victoria experienced rainfall totals between 150–300 mm, including the highest falls of:

• 222 mm in Strathbogie North
• 210 mm at Charnwood
• 166 mm on the Goulburn River at Seymour

The initial rain event was followed by several smaller, storm driven, heavy rain events that caused localised flash flooding and kept river levels high.

The Murray River is one of Victoria’s largest water catchments and in many parts is the border between Victoria and New South Wales. The first flood warning for the Murray River was issued on 5 August 2022 and the final flood warning was issued on 26 January 2023, with a total of 147 warnings issued between August 2022 and January 2023. Flooding in the Murray River was driven by major flooding in rivers in northern Victoria and in the downstream parts by the Murrumbidgee River. Major flooding was experienced along the Murray River at most forecast locations from downstream of Lake Hume to Wentworth.

On 14 October, the town of Rochester on the banks of the Campaspe River, and Seymour on the Goulburn River, were inundated with flood peaks higher than those recorded in 2011 and 1974. Over the remainder of October and November, rain continued to fall and major flooding continued across much of Victoria. The Goulburn, Murray, Campaspe, Loddon, Avoca, King and Kiewa rivers in northern Victoria, the Maribyrnong River in metropolitan Melbourne, and the Barwon River in the southwest were among those that flooded. Townships and suburbs that saw major flooding, evacuations, and inundation of properties included:

• Shepparton, Mooroopna, and Murchison (Greater Shepparton LGA)
• Seymour (Mitchell LGA)
• Benalla (Benalla LGA)
• Barmah (Moira LGA) and Wodonga (Wodonga LGA)
• Rochester and Echuca (Campaspe LGA)
• Kerang (Gannawarra LGA)
• Bridgewater on Loddon (Loddon LGA)
• Baringhup and Campbells Creek (Mount Alexander LGA)
• Heathcote (Greater Bendigo LGA)
• Mildura (Mildura LGA)
• Maribyrnong (Maribyrnong LGA).

Floodwaters continued to move through the river systems well into December. Standing water remained, and many other townships across the state saw minor to major flooding, impacting residential and commercial properties.

Impact and consequences

The 2022 flood event caused devastation across much of Victoria and affected thousands of people. Two people tragically lost their lives.

• Agriculture Victoria estimates that some 500,000 hectares of farmland were affected.
• Approximately 12,230 agricultural properties were impacted by flooding across northern Victoria.
• 17,500 livestock were dead or missing.
• The flooding affected 5,017 residential and commercial buildings, leaving 976 buildings uninhabitable, 569 habitable with damage and 3,472 with minor damage.
• 56 public schools were closed at different times of the flood and emergency.
• 4,419 km public roads were damaged.
• 210,553 ha of public land which supports recreation and environmental values was inundated.

Both short- and long-term service disruptions of communications, power and water were experienced by communities. Road closures and road damage isolated towns and properties. These disruptions were particularly complex in communities isolated by floodwaters.

For further information on the response, flood rescue and coordination, community engagement and public information, cross-border coordination, relief and resupply, early recovery and observations read full case study in the Major Incidents Reports 2022-23.