Melbourne Water will review a decision to approve a flood wall built to protect Flemington racetrack. 

The racetrack was spared by recent flooding in Melbourne, which saw homes in neighbouring suburbs including Maribyrnong and Kensington inundated. 

Some residents claim the wall pushed flood waters away from the track and into their homes.

The Victorian Racing Club (VRC) constructed the flood wall between the southern side of the track and the Maribyrnong River in 2007, after it was approved by a Labor government in 2004.

In approving the plan, the then state planning minister, Mary Delahunty, said: “The flood protection works and racetrack upgrade will ensure that major horse racing events at Flemington, such as the Cup or the Victoria Derby, cannot be affected by major flooding of the Maribyrnong River.

“Melbourne Water’s modelling confirms that, provided the compensatory works are in place, there is no increase in risks to people and property in the river valley.”

Several local councils, resident groups, and water experts opposed the plan at the time, but the Victorian government-owned statutory authority Melbourne Water backed it.

Melbourne Water is now chaired by John Thwaites, who was deputy premier and water minister when the wall was approved.

These alleged government ties have left some questioning whether the review will be independent. 

Melbourne Water has already confirmed that Dr Thwaites will excuse himself from the review.

“Professor Thwaites has excused himself from any involvement in the review to avoid any potential or perceived conflicts of interest, as is common practice,” a spokesperson said.

“Managing director Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo will authorise the review that will also be subject to an independent peer assessment.

“Further details are still being defined during the current scoping phase.”

Premier Daniel Andrews says he is confident in Melbourne Water’s ability to carry it out.

“I think Melbourne Water can conduct the review,” he told reporters.

“Let’s wait and see what that review says. I’ve got confidence in them and we’ll get those reports back and we can make assessments at that point.”

Chief executive of Racing Victoria, Andrew Jones, has described the flooding of nearby homes as “unintended consequences for neighbouring residents”.

“The VRC took steps to flood-protect its property 15 years ago, which it’s entitled to do, [and] that’s obviously had unintended consequences for neighbouring residents,” he told Channel Nine.

“Obviously there was no intention of the VRC to cause harm. They tried to protect the spring carnival and the Melbourne Cup carnival, which is a massively important part of Victorian life and the Victorian economy, so I think this is an unintended consequence.”