Mayor Cheryl Cook said the peer review was vital to provide the community with confidence in the technical foundations of the flood study before moving forward into the Flood Risk Management Study and Plan (FRMS&P).
“We heard the concerns, especially from our Mulwala residents, and committed to an independent assessment before moving ahead,” Cr Cook said.
“The finding that the Mulwala flood levels are appropriate gives us the certainty we need to plan for the future.”
The review, however, did indicate that the flood flow estimates for Doctors Point and Corowa may have been underestimated and will be investigated during the initial stage of the FRMS&P.
The underestimation at Corowa/Doctors Point could mean higher riverine design flood levels in Howlong and Corowa but not significantly influence flood levels at Mulwala.
For now, the council will continue using the existing 2012 Local Environmental Plan (LEP) for land use and development decisions, however once the FRMS&P is complete, new controls will be officially adopted.
The peer review, undertaken by Venant Solutions, was commissioned by the council in May this year following public outcry over new building levels adopted after release of the original flood study.
Federation Council adopted the study in November last year and began to assess building and development applications against a 1% AEP (one-in-one-hundred-year) flood event, requiring building levels to be 500mm above the 1% AEP.
For some, that meant raising the floor level more than a metre with additional costs running into six figures.
As fears for the future of Mulwala’s building, development and real estate industries grew, and doubts were cast over the accuracy of data used in the study, council resolved to continue using the 2012 Local Environmental Plan (LEP) until the study was peer reviewed.
The review, presented to council at the September ordinary meeting, concluded that the 2024 Flood Study was consistent with current best practice and suitable for floodplain purposes.
Crucially, the review found that the flood frequency analysis (FFA) for Yarrawonga provided a reliable estimate of the 1% AEP design flow, meaning the resulting flood levels at Mulwala were appropriate.
The FRMS&P will commence this month to identify and assess potential mitigation to reduce flood damages for the three towns.
It will assess all options based on benefit versus cost, formulate a floodplain management plan to identify actions to protect life and property, and develop new flood-based planning and development controls.
Cr Cook said the council was committed to a transparent and risk-averse approach and emphasised the importance of community involvement.
“The risk management process will require the input of the community through the Flood Risk Management Committee,” she said.
“I encourage all residents to stay engaged as we work to identify the best strategies to reduce the flood risk across the Federation Council area.
“This dual process, validating the science and then moving into practical risk reduction, ensures we are making informed decisions that will create a strong, sustainable reality for the Federation Council region."
Residents are encouraged to stay engaged on this project by signing up to Council’s electronic newsletter or visiting Council’s website.
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