At the last council meeting on July 20, councillors expressly asked that residents be urged to take note of the floodplain study on how water impacts Back Lake and Merimbula Lake and the flow on effects.
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Councillor Russell Fitzpatrick asked for the media’s help in highlighting the importance of the study and a couple of days later, the mayor, Michael Britten also mentioned its importance.
The report is particularly important because of the longer term effects that its results could have on residents’ insurance and on building guidelines for areas affected. The draft report models the impacts of flooding to 2100 based on gradual sea level rises.
Councillors agreed that the draft flood study report should be placed on exhibition on council’s website and that a communication and media plan be released outlining all methods of consultation and engagement on this report and the next three stages of this process.
The study has not yet appeared on the website but can be seen by looking at item 11.3 of council’s agenda for the July 20 council meeting. It is included at the end of the item as an attachment.
The study is a five stage process with stage 2 just completed. It will define the current and future flood behaviour of the catchments which include the Lakes and their tributaries Millingandi Creek, Boggy Creek, Bald Hills Creek and Merimbula Creek. Local residents will be able to identify their property from the study and comment on the prospective flood effects.
Ultimately council must decide how it handles the risk associated with flooding which can occur from catchment flows from rainfall events, as well as from elevated water levels in Merimbula Lake and Back Lake as a result of ocean storm surges.
The study, is being prepared to meet the objectives of the NSW State Government's Flood Prone Land Policy. Under the policy, NSW local governments are responsible for identifying and managing the risk to life and property from flooding. One of the most important steps in the process is increasing community awareness of flooding so that people are better able to understand and plan for the flood risks they face.
Council wants to hear from those owners who may be risk of flooding. As part of the management process council could introduce building controls around flood prone areas which may affect new building work and possibly redevelopment. This may not mean that building work is prohibited, rather that extra controls are put in place. For example, the construction of new buildings will need to be set at or above suitable Flood Planning Levels and out of flood danger.
