THE Coffs Harbour City Council is reviewing the Flood Study and Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the Middle Creek catchment, which encompasses the suburbs of Sawtell, Toormina and Boambee East.

Council has established a committee which consists of councillors, Council staff and representatives from the State Emergency Service, State Government and the community.

The study will provide a better understanding of flooding in the catchment and how best to manage these flood risks into the future.

The findings will be used to improve the existing Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan and help coordinate immediate and future flood management works and initiatives by Government and the community, including flood risk associated with future development and changes in land use.

Information from the study will also be used by the State Emergency Service (SES) during flood emergencies and by Council to manage development in flood-affected areas.

The draft study estimates that costs to the community at $361,000 per year from the flooding of Middle Creek.
It indicates that sea level rise and resistance to the flowing of Middle Creek would have more significant influences on the peak flood levels predictions.

Rising sea levels could cause a flood increase by as much as 0.6m for residential area opposite the Sawtell Bowling Club and swimming pool on Boronia Street and increased “channel roughness” within Middle Creek downstream of the railway could increase peak flood levels by 0.45m at the Boronia Street properties between Lyons Road and Wattle Street, and 0.3m upstream of the Lyons Road bridge.

The documents relevant to the study are available publicly, online, during October.

More details can be found by going to the Council’s “Have your Say” web page.

 

By Andrew VIVIAN