After the tragic events of the 2015 April super storm, Dungog Shire Council is developing a Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.
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Last year’s natural disaster saw the engorged Myall Creek create a flash flood across the streets of the Dungog township.
The development of the plan and study is one of the final stages of a process which has seen the formation of a floodplain risk management committee, the collection of data and the undertaking of a flood study.
The council has engaged Royal Haskoning DHV to prepare the study and plan, which will assess flood risk within Dungog and the surrounding area.
Senior metocean engineer Rohan Hudson said the process was underway but at an early stage.
“It’s aimed at looking at what options can be taken to reduce flood risk at Dungog,” Mr Hudson said.
A mail-out will begin to arrive in letterboxes in Dungog this week. It will contain a survey – giving people the opportunity to express their thoughts on the options.
Residents who have information from previous floods are encouraged to become involved in the process. Mr Hudson said local knowledge was very important.
“There were floods in 2007 and 1968, some older residents might have knowledge of that event,” he said.
“To develop the models we need to calibrate them to historic events, we try to make sure the models can replicate these historic events.
“We are keen to have the community on board, it’s important we get their opinions.”
Mr Hudson said an initial investigation from the April 2015 event saw the first detailed model of the Myall Creek ever conducted. He said last year’s flood showed the biggest threat to the township had come from the Myall Creek.
“The April 2015 event was extreme and rarer than a one in 500 year event,” he said.
“[Waters] were closer than one metre above what is expected to occur once every 500 years.”
Mr Hudson said already there were some obvious options to reduce flood risk.
Flood warning systems will be investigated for their capacity to reduce the risk to life.
“There are two types, either based on water levels or rainfall.
“If the water exceeds a certain level an alarm might go off, or text messages might be sent out.
“Otherwise, if the rainfall exceeds a certain level a warning might be raised based on that.
“Then there is hybrid systems.”
Mr Hudson said the study was in its early stages and recommendations would not be finalised until the end of the process.
He said education was also key.
“Making sure people know what areas are at risk and where they should go in the event of a flood,” he said.
Under NSW planning laws council is responsible for the management of local flood planning.
Dungog Shire Council manager of environmental services Paul Minett said community participation was key.
“I would encourage people to jump on the website or the Facebook page and fill out the survey,” Mr Minett said.
The study will asses flood risk to both life and property and identify and recommend an appropriate plan of action.
Council’s Floodplain Risk Management Committee meets regularly and includes representatives of from council, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, State Emergency Services and the local community.
The committee will meet again in the coming weeks to look at the first outcomes and data of the study.
The study and plan are expected to go on public exhibition in January 2017.
There is also a website with information about the floodplain plan and study where residents can fill-out the survey.
Visit: dungogfloodstudy.org or facebook.com/DungogFloodStudy
