Council lifts flood status from estates

THE Geelong council has revoked flood plain designations over four housing estate areas, clearing a major pre-construction hurdle for the development of hundreds of new homes.

City engineers determined that internal drainage, road construction and earthworks at the sites within the Mt Duneed, Ashbury, Forrest Green and The Point estates can contain potential floodwaters from the 100-year rainfall benchmark.

“The works have resulted in the lots being protected from flooding during a major storm event that has a one per cent probability of occurring in any one year, and occurs on average once in 100 years …. this is the required standard for new subdivisions,” council’s city services director Guy Wilson-Browne’s report stated.

“The removal of flood prone designation allows owners to build on their land without a special permit from the city, and without raising the floor level of their home … it also reduces the cost of property insurance,” he said.

The flood prone designations for the various estates were implemented by the Geelong council between 2001-2006.

Mr Wilson-Browne’s report stated that council designation of flood affected areas is separate to the creation of flood overlays within the state Planning Scheme.

“The planning scheme amendment to create post-development flood zones or overlays is proposed after the design of the proposed precincts,” he noted.

Removing the flood affected land classification for Stage 1 of Forrest Green Estate on Horseshoe Bend Road frees up more than 80 house blocks and another 30 at Stage 33 on Oasis Drive in Mt Duneed.

At Ashbury Estate, revoking the flood designation means seven blocks in Stage 16A fronting Inglenook Circuit in Armstrong Creek will be open for construction, and more than 20 blocks within Stage 8 at The Point estate on the corner of Bellarine Hwy and Queenscliff Road.

It is the second round of housing estate areas having there flood risk reassessed by council, in March five Warralily areas were freed from similar encumbrances by council.