City welcomes floodplain management change

A STATEWIDE push to improve floodplain protection has been welcomed by the City of Greater Geelong.

The changes, which follow a review into the 2022 floods, support Victoria’s catchment management authorities to lead flood mapping and community engagement to streamline flood-related planning scheme amendments, which will now be the responsibility of the Minister for Planning.

This will reduce the cost and administrative burden for local councils, which previously did this work.

A new risk-based flood hazard rating system modelled on the bushfire danger rating system will be implemented to provide better flood information to local communities.

Ratings will range from “low” to “very high” to provide more accurate information, which will correspond to new planning and building controls.

This new system is intended to speed up development decisions by ensuring the approvals process and development controls are proportionate to risk.

The reforms stem from the Victorian government’s review of the Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy of 2016, which was undertaken following a recommendation from the Parliamentary inquiry into the widespread flooding in 2022, which also affected Geelong.

The city has been advocating for the Victorian government to to recognise the urgent need for a consistent, streamlined, statewide approach to flood mitigation and management.

“I fully support the Victorian Government’s new approach to flood mapping, which brings it in line with its management of bushfire planning,” Geelong deputy mayor Ron Nelson said.

“This is a great outcome, led by the city’s advocacy in collaboration with state and federal members and councils across the region.”

You Yangs Ward councillor Chris Burson said the move would help keep flood management consistent statewide.

“This change will help ensure our community is better protected and decisions are made using consistent data across the state.

“This is a significant change in process and the right course of action for the broader Victorian community.”

The city is also pushing the Victorian government to support the delivery of sustainable stormwater infrastructure to meet the demands of population growth, including the forecast 128,000 new homes in Geelong by 2051.

For more information, head to water.vic.gov.au/our-programs/floodplain-management/victorian-floodplain-management-strategies