Community invited to join panel for Kyabram flood study

24 May 2019 - Media release

Expressions of interest are now open for community members to join the Community Reference Panel to support the Kyabram Flood Study.

Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said council, with the assistance of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, has been funded under the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme to complete the flood study. The study will determine the impacts of flooding, assess flood risk and determine any mitigation strategies.

“The study will be headed by a Project Review Group with representatives from the SES, Goulburn Broken CMA and council, with a community reference panel to be established to ensure local knowledge is fed into the study,” Cr Weston said.

The panel will be made up of representatives from:

Two local ward councillors Vicki Neele and John Zobec, to share the chairing of the meeting; Kyabram Drainage Advisory Committee – 2 members; Kyabram township community – 3 members; Kyabram rural south / west / Mosquito Depression landowner group – 2 members; Kyabram rural north / east landowner group – 2 members; Kyabram recreational and public lands group – 2-4 members; and Statutory authorities and special interest groups – GBCMA, SES, GMW, GV Water, Yorta Yorta Nations, VicTrack, VicRoads, DELWP and other groups as become relevant or identified (by direct invitation).

“The role of the community panel is advisory only, to consider and provide comment on information through to the Project Control Group, using their local knowledge,” Cr Weston said.

Current flood information for Kyabram is outdated, based on information from a 1994 study. Flooding has been documented in many parts of the town and in 2011, 2012 and 2017, including flash flooding from a thunderstorm event in December 2017.

“As well as gathering information about the impacts of flooding, information gathered from the study will also be used for emergency management planning, a planning scheme review and community education,” the Mayor added.

A copy of the Terms of Reference for the community is available from council’s website or from the Kyabram Customer Service Centre.

Expressions of interest close on Thursday, 20 June.