Goodna RSL unveils flood action plan

AS WORK to rebuild the Goodna RSL club begins more than a year after floodwater destroyed the venue, a unique plan to protect the financial future of the club from similar events has been unveiled.

With the club suffering a $10 million loss as a result of the flood, a new strategic plan will see around three-quarters of the venue's most expensive equipment removed from the building before floodwater arrives.

RSL president David Christie said the new strategic plan would help protect the RSL from further devastating financial losses.

"We now have a strategic plan in place to remove around 75% of the equipment in the place if we have advance warning of a river peak," Mr Christie said.

"If we are warned the river will rise to 18 metres, then we can get the equipment out within seven hours."

The plan focuses on the removal of the most expensive items, most of which are uninsurable against flood.

The removal of the 212 gaming machines is at the heart of the plan that has been crucial in negotiations with insurance companies for future coverage.

"If you look at just the gaming machines, you're looking at around $5 million," Mr Christie said.

The plan includes an agreement with a major transport company to be on call in case of a flood event to focus on the removal of the gaming machines.

Around 100 people, both staff members and volunteers have been trained to work in five separate groups to set the plan in motion immediately after a flood peak warning.

Volunteer details will be updated quarterly and staff and supervisors have been allocated as team leaders.

With each gaming machine valued at $20,000 to $30,000, the plan has the potential to more than halve the financial losses experienced last year.

With flood peaks notoriously hard to predict, Mr Christie admitted the potential existed for the plan to be invoked unnecessarily.

"When we get the call that the river is expected to reach 18 metres, we will have to make that call," he said.

"It could cost us 40 to 50 grand but that's better than losing 10 million."