PORT Stephens Council is revising the Floodplain Risk Management Policy.

Following the recent flooding and the decision by the Government to declare Port Stephens as an area affected by Severe Weather and Flooding, this policy review comes at a practical time, with public exhibition now open.

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In January 2019 Council resolved to form a Committee composed of Councillors and Council staff to rewrite the Floodplain Risk Management Policy.

The Committee met on numerous occasions between mid-2019 and late 2020 to review the policy and other flood related documentation.

The revised Floodplain Risk Management Policy has now been endorsed by the Council at the 22 March 2022.

Ordinary Council Meeting and placed on Public Exhibition until 5pm Tuesday 19 April.

John Maretich, Port Stephens Council Asset Section Manager, says Council is committed to managing flooding across the Local Government Area using an integrated risk management approach.

“The policy aims to systematically reduce the impact of flooding and flood liability on individual owners and reduce the private and public losses resulting from floods.

“It also recognises that flood prone land is a valued resource to the community, land holders and the economy and these lands should not be sterilised by unnecessarily restricting appropriate development,” Mr Maretich said.

The Policy also aims to consider floodplain risk as early as possible through the use of flood information, classification of risk areas and cost-effective measures that address existing, future and continuing risks to ensure the avoidance, mitigation and minimisation of floodplain risk.

“Port Stephens Council will facilitate the systematic collection of flood information and floodplain risk data, provide this information in a timely way so that residents can understand the severity of floodplain risk and plan their affairs accordingly,” Mr Maretich said.

To view the Policy, visit https://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/council/public-exhibitions/current-public-exhibitions

By Tara CAMPBELL