Plan flooded with community input

IT’S official, Shelford and Inverleigh are Golden Plains Shire’s worst flood-prone areas, thanks to the Leigh River which flows through both townships.

Along with being a Shire councillor, Nathan Hansford is the controller of the Bannockburn SES unit and said the highway in Shelford can see residents knee-deep in water.

“It will rise by a number of meters, and that puts about five or six houses under water, before it goes downstream and affects Inverleigh,” he said.

In order to ideally respond in cases of extreme wet weather, the Golden Plains Shire has recently updated an approved Municipal Flood Emergency Management Plan.

The plan outlines approaches for before, during and after a potential flood, looking at risk, limiting causes and impacts, emergency response strategies, and protocols across Victoria.

The updates to the Shire’s approach of the management plan have been made based on community consultation.

“This time the plan went out to the local groups in the townships most affected by flood, we sought their feedback and requested photos of previous floods,” Cr Hansford said.

“They’re all things that might assist in being able to get the most accurate levels of where water has been to in the past. Our hardest hit towns have been consulted the most.

“It’s a far outreaching plan than has ever been produced, and the SES was part of that consultation as well.”

Cr Hansford said the new plan is better for the Shire’s residents because council, emergency services and relief agencies will gain a greater understanding of what to prepare for, and where, in periods of sustained wet conditions.

“It helps us understand flows from overland, and streams that will create the flood. It’s all about being able to warn the public about what is coming their way.

“It’s also about being able to have earlier notice for those who may need to evacuate, and certainly those who may need assistance in evacuating, like those with poor mobility,” he said.

Visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/emergency.