It is essential that we continue to pay heed to the effects of climate change, because Mildura is more susceptible to a major flood than most people realise.

Government and insurers alike will now be almost completely restrictive about development on flood-prone land.

There is an urgent need for positive action in these difficult times to obtain the best possible future for Sunraysia Wentworth Shire Council, aided by Mildura Rural City Council and politicians, must urgently send a top-level deputation to Sydney, followed by a deputation to Melbourne.

The deputations must seek early dispensation for Wentworth Shire, and for Mildura’s future, to open up programmed development of that large area of environmentally attractive, flood-free land over the river from Mildura, and extending from Dareton to Monak, preferably by building a bridge at Monak.

Lacking flood-free land for development immediately adjacent to the city, Mildura would benefit from the residential and business opportunities created by developing the higher ground across the river; it would breathe new life into the “dead end” of Mildura City.

The deputations should point out that previous Labor governments in NSW and Victoria thought Sunraysia had no political value: to garner city votes, they forgot us – indeed, robbed us – of water, and our train.

Sunraysia’s population continues to increase. The deputations should seek the return of our passenger train, stressing its appeal to local and international tourists, and its importance to Sunraysia’s development as an inland hub to advance decentralisation and defence – we are the gateway to Australia’s vast interior.

That Sunraysia is now a bastion of political conservatism should help.

Further record floods are now possible, even likely, To improve community knowledge of the extraordinary 1956 flood, I suggest that Apricot Productions’ video of the flood, and appropriate other photos, be shown on television and published in newspapers.

A planning rethink is necessary. We live in frighteningly interesting times.

Dudley Marrows,

Mildura.