Local knowledge needed for overland flood study

Released 22 June 2018

Council engineers are calling on residents to share their knowledge of localised flooding to help plan for future flood events in the Wagga Wagga township.

The Wagga Wagga Major Overland Flow Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan is currently being developed, and will be a crucial document in securing funding for future flood mitigation projects in the city.

This study and plan looks at overland flow flooding caused by excess rainfall and local runoff, and includes areas near Marshalls Creek, Lake Albert, Dukes Creek and the Glenfield Drain. It does not include flooding from the Murrumbidgee River, which is subject to a separate study and plan.

Council’s Lead Engineer - Water and Waste Assets, Shaula Siregar, says community input will play a crucial role in the development of the study and plan.

“We want to know where residents think the problem areas are and what they think are the best solutions,” she said.

“We’ll then assess that feedback against a range of other criteria including modelling and best practice to determine some recommendations.”

“There will be further opportunities for feedback once a draft has been developed.”

Flood mitigation options being considered include, but are not limited to, drains and channels, retarding/detention basins, voluntary house raising and flood response measures.

Once the study and plan is adopted Council will seek to implement the recommendations by applying for funding through the NSW Government’s Flood Risk Management Program.

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey before Friday 20 July online at wagga.nsw.gov.au/floodfutures or by picking up a hard copy at the Civic Centre Customer Service Desk.

Information sheets and hard copy surveys are also being mailed to residents in some sections of the identified catchment areas so that they can share knowledge of their area.