Council is urging residents take note of the floodplain study on how water impacts Back Lake and Merimbula Lake and the flow on effects.
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A draft report has been produced which models the impacts of flooding to 2100 based on gradual sea level rises and while the ultimate dates on the report may seen far off, the impacts could be felt by residents much sooner because of the effect on insurance and building guidelines.
The study is a five stage process with stage 2 just completed. The draft report has not been adopted by council and will be on exhibition on council’s website. This study will define the current and future flood behaviour of the catchments which include the Lakes and their tributaries Millingandi Creek, Boggy Creek, Bald Hills Creek and Merimbula Creek. Local residents will be able to identify their property from the study and comment on the prospective flood effects.
Ultimately council must decide how it handles the risk associated with flooding which can occur from catchment flows from rainfall events, as well as from elevated water levels in Merimbula Lake and Back Lake as a result of ocean storm surges.
The study, is being prepared to meet the objectives of the NSW State Government's Flood Prone Land Policy. Under the policy, NSW local governments are responsible for identifying and managing the risk to life and property from flooding. One of the most important steps in the process is increasing community awareness of flooding so that people are better able to understand and plan for the flood risks they face.
Council wants to hear from those owners who may be risk of flooding. As part of the management process council could introduce building controls around flood prone areas which may affect new building work and possibly redevelopment. This may not mean that building work is prohibited, rather that extra controls are put in place. For example, the construction of new buildings will need to be set at or above suitable Flood Planning Levels and out of flood danger.