Floodplain Feasibility Study Underway

With the recent appointment of Dryside Engineering (Dryside), works are underway for the feasibility study of the flood risk management plan recommended options contained in the Moree and Environs Floodplain Risk Management Plan (Plan), adopted by Council in May 2019.

Late last year, Council was successful in securing $137,000 from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for this study, which will allow the community, through Council and the Moree Plains Shire Floodplain Risk Management Committee (Committee), to work through the recommendations.

This week, Dryside is on the ground in the Moree Plains, for the first time since their appointment.

The Plan summarises a number of management measures (Structural Planning and Emergency Response) that have been recommended for further investigation for Moree. During their visit this week to Moree, Dryside will commence investigations into these identified potential flood protection measures which aim to reduce the impact of major flood events on the community in Moree.

The measures to be further investigated include alterations to planning controls for high risk residential areas; the feasibility of raising a number of roads in town to facilitate safe evacuation prior to, and during, a flood; raising the northern approach to Dr Geoffrey Hunter Bridge on Balo Street and developing a helicopter landing area at Yarraman (including reducing the number of powerlines and/or relocating such services for safety). Dryside have also been engaged as part of the feasibility study to scrutinise and review the flood protection measure identified in the Plan’s recommendations which has raised most concern for many community members; the potential Moree town levee.

These investigations will involve onsite meetings with identified stakeholders as well as meeting with members of the Committee.

Once the feasibility study is completed, Council will work together with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall to secure future funding to support any physical flood mitigation works.

For more details in relation to Floodplain Risk Management in the Moree Plains, see Council’s website > Hot Topics> Floodplain Risk Management.

Interested community members should provide their comments to Council’s Engineering Services team so these can be passed onto Dryside.