Draft flood strategy floated

THE community can have their say on the draft Corangamite Regional Floodplain Management Strategy at a drop-in session next week.

The strategy was drawn up by the Coranagamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

It proposes a number of high priority actions, including supporting the implementation of the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers flood study and ensuring the flood study’s emergency response includes key triggers for evacuations and road closures, inundations plans and impacts on significant infrastructure.

In 2011, after widespread rain in the Barwon River catchment’s northern tributaries averaging 50 to 70 millimetres, the Barwon River flooded to 3.68 metres at Geelong on January 16.

This followed the significant rainfall of between 20 to 40 millimetres earlier in the week, and resulted in flooding along the Barwon through Geelong from Queens Park to the Breakwater, above floor flooding of homes and flooding of farming land in upper catchment.

The fifth-largest flood event ever recorded on the Barwon River took place in Geelong in November 1995.

Rainfall totals between 90 and 180 millimetres were recorded over four days, with the greatest rainfall in the Barwon Catchment’s middle and northern tributaries.

This significant rainfall resulted in flooding and the Barwon River peaking at 5.23 metres at McIntyre Bridge on November 8.

Floodplain statutory co-ordinator Jessie McMaster said the authority was keen to hear people’s feedback on the draft strategy to ensure it had captured all the floodplain management issues, that there were appropriate actions addressing the flood risks, the visions and objectives aligned with community expectations and to hear the community’s thoughts on the proposed implementation and monitoring approach.

The drop-in session will be held on at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, 51 Little Malop Street, Geelong, on November 14 from 4-6pm.

Head to ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/flood.