FloodFutures

Following representations by the North Wagga Residents Association, Council will delay the public consultation process in relation to flood mitigation options in North Wagga pending the outcome of the Peer review of the 2018 Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

The Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee recently resolved to commission an independent peer review of the North Wagga component of the overall Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan. The review will look at the process surrounding the risk assessment strategy and consultation processes for all flood mitigation options proposed for North Wagga and will extend to the methodology used to select the mitigation options for further investigation and conformance to Office of Environment and Heritage processes, procedures and guidelines.

A Request for Quote will be advertised shortly seeking submissions from independent consultants to undertake this peer review. This process will take some months to complete.

As a result, responses to the flyer sent out from Woolcott Research and Engagement recently will not be required at this time.

Council has engaged the Centre for International Economics to conduct the Feasibility Study for the Flood Mitigation Options for North Wagga and the surrounding floodplain. The study involves a comprehensive and detailed Cost Benefit analysis of the nominated options and will provide information to the Floodplain Risk Management and Advisory Committee who will provide a recommendation to Council for endorsement and implementation.

The first stage of this study is a comprehensive and inclusive community consultation. Unfortunately, under current COVID-19 restrictions, CIE have had to consider modification to the preferred delivery method of this consultation and are looking at using online meetings such as Zoom and Skype to facilitate this consultation.

Council and CIE are seeking your opinion on the preferred method of consultation. If you wish to have your say on the preferred method of consultation, please go to the link below where you can access the CIE Online Survey.

http://woolcott.com.au/waggawagga/(External link)

The survey is open until the 18th of May.

Wagga Wagga Major Overland Flow Flood (MOFF) Risk Management Study and Plan

WMAwater has progressed a number of further flood modification options, since the presentation made to the Committee at the meeting of 18 June 2019 with the focus being the following areas in the city domain:

• Bolton Park – optimising and increasing basin storage by reducing the size of the existing pipe through the park
• Minor road regrading and earthworks around Adjin Street at Maher Street, to direct runoff into the drainage line (and keep it there)
• Redhill Road raising (possibly as part of Glenfield Road Upgrade)
• Wren Street swale drain
• Incarnie Crescent – pipe regrading/ addition of new pipe
• Improved basin function of Anderson Oval
• Improve the Urana St basin function
• Wollundry Lagoon Weir

In addition, further refinements have been made to the Lake Albert Options presented at the last meeting. Moving forward, WMAwater will be looking at all the options and selecting the most effective ones to progress further.

Given the topography, urbanisation and nature of overland flooding in Wagga, structural options tend to be most effective in a small, localised area rather than having far-reaching impacts across the city – it is unlikely that there will be ‘one option to rule them all’ in terms of reducing Wagga’s overland flood risk.

Therefore, in the coming weeks WMAwater will be looking at bringing all the preferred options together into a single “MOFFRMS masterplan” that can be adopted and implemented as opportunities arise in the future. This, along with smart planning controls and response measures, will reduce Wagga Wagga’s overland flow flood risk over time. WMAwater aiming to be able to present this to the Committee at the 1 October 2019 meeting.

Main City and North Wagga Levee

The upgrade of the remaining 6km of levee between Gobbagombalin Bridge and Hammond Avenue is the second part of this lengthy and complex project. The aim is to provide a 1 in 100-year flood protection to the city for the first time.

Stage 2 works involve the extension and reinforcement of existing concrete retaining walls and installation of capped sheet piles and extensive use of earthworks to raise the existing levee where possible.

The sheetpiles between Cadell Place and Johnston Street have been installed, adjusted for height and capping of these piles has commenced. The concrete path from Wiradjuri bridge to Johnston St has been completed. The concrete wall extension around the Watermark complex has been completed.

The carpark at Crampton Street has been reopened and the cribwall, stairs, footpath and DDA ramp completed with handrail installation to be completed shortly.

The Narrung St bank is completed and only waiting for seeding to take place and the area along the dog track is on track for completion shortly. The Wiradjuri Walking Track will be completely closed for several months in this section from January 2019.

The sheetpiles south of the Sturt Highway and along to Kooringal Road have been driven and levelled, the capping of these piles should commence shortly. The sheetpiles between the Riverina Water pedestrian bridge and the Sturt Highway have been driven and levelled, the capping of these piles should commence shortly.

Earthworks between the Railway Viaduct and the Riverina Water pedestrian bridge has commenced and should be completed shortly.

Residents and business operators affected by the works, or anyone interested in the Stage 2 levee project attended a community information session held on 30 May 2019.

Council staff are working with the contractors to minimise disruptions as much as possible and thank residents and businesses for their cooperation throughout these works.

There is effectively only 1600m of 9000m of levee still to be raised. The levee raising will be completed before the end of 2019 with ancillary works such as paths and capping to be completed early in 2020.

The Stage 2 upgrade is scheduled to take approximately 14 months, weather dependant.

Wagga Wagga Revised Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan

Updates to FRMS&P Mitigation Measures

RE1: Improve Flood Warning System

As stated at the previous meeting, Council has made a grant application to investigate options to improve our riverine flood warning system. We are awaiting response in relation to the application, which will most likely be towards the end of the year. Some preliminary research has been conducted by Council staff in anticipation of the funding application being approved. There are official BOM and Office of Water Apps available that will facilitate the implementation of an effective system that provides early warning to the entire community along the floodplain.

R1: Improved Access to Oura

Council staff are undertaking further investigations into this recommendation.

R2: Improved Access to Gumly Gumly

Council has staff have contacted and provided information to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) in respect to this recommendation. RMS will investigate options to raise the Sturt Highway as part of their ongoing rehabilitation program.

Wagga Wagga Villages Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan

Work has progressed on the study particularly in regard to mitigation modelling, with a view to releasing a draft final report by the end of August. For mitigation work (selection of options and optimisation of same) community representatives are being engaged with, as a pre-cursor to further community engagement during the public exhibition phase.

It is anticipated that during the public exhibition phase the document will be made available on-line, in the public library and community meetings will be carried out with each village.

The draft final report will be presented to the committee for review and endorsement at the 1 October 2019 committee meeting. Once finalised the Wagga Wagga Villages Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan will be reported to Council recommending it be placed on public exhibition.

Attached for the committee’s reference is the June 2019 Project Management Office report showing the current status and timelines of this project.

Flood Mitigation Option Feasibility Study for North Wagga & Floodplain Residents

Options PR1 & L4B

PR1: Undertake a feasibility study to investigate a Voluntary House Raising & Voluntary House Purchase Scheme in Wagga Wagga Study Area.

L4B: Undertake a feasibility study to investigate North Wagga Levee Upgrade to 5% AEP level of protection WITH an equivalent upgrade to Hampden Avenue (as embankment) and conveyance improvements through Wilks Park.

From WWCC, develop a third option as part of the study, a combination of the two measures (PR1 and L4B).

Council has received grant funding from OEH to undertake the feasibility study of these three options. Council staff have completed the scoping document for this project and are working on the development of the brief. Given the nature of the options to be investigated as part of the study, there is a level of complexity that needs to be fully considered and understood to ensure practical outcomes from the study.

The tender process needs to be finalised by the end of October 2019 to ensure the funding from OEH is utilised within the required timeframes

A grant application has been submitted for Humula and Mangoplah Flood Studies and Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans.

The flood study will produce information on flood levels, velocities, flows, hydraulic categories and provisional hazard categories for a full range of flood events.

Residents of Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty are being asked to share their experiences of flooding in their area as the next stage of the Floodplain Risk Management Program gets underway.

The NSW Government program consists of five stages to help councils make informed decisions about what measures are needed to reduce and manage flood risk.

Flood studies for the three villages were completed in late 2014, which carried out detailed hydrologic and hydraulic computer modelling to define the range of possible floods that can occur in each village.

Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans for Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty are now being developed to help identify and recommend appropriate actions to manage flooding in these communities.

“Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty each experienced severe flooding in the October 2010 and March 2012 floods that swept through the Murrumbidgee basin,” Wagga Wagga City Council’s Director Commercial Operations Caroline Angel said.

“Many properties were flooded during the floods, with October 2010 causing more extensive damage and wider evacuation.

“Flood Studies for these three villages were carried out in late 2014, with detailed hydrologic and hydraulic computer modelling to define the range of possible floods that can occur in each town.

“The documents now being developed will make a detailed assessment of flood risk in each of the three villages and will include investigating a range of possible measures Council may use to reduce or manage flood risk in the towns.

“We would like to hear your experiences of flooding to better understand how flooding occurs in these villages and what measures may improve the current flood situation.”

Council has appointed flood engineering specialists GRC Hydro to complete the Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans.

Residents are asked to complete the surveys by Friday 1 March 2019 to ensure their feedback can be included in the development of the documents.

The second stage of Wagga Wagga’s Main City levee upgrade kicked off on 7 January 2019 with contractor Murray Constructions establishing work compounds and installing site fencing.

Wagga Wagga City Council, Senior Project Manager Darryl Woods, said Stage 2 involves the upgrade of 6.1km of the levee bank, stretching from Gobbagombalin Bridge to Copeland Street.

“Due to the complexity and size of the project the contractor will split the work into phases, with the first section to be undertaken between Wiradjuri Bridge and Johnson Street.

“The first phase involves the extension of the existing concrete retaining walls in Cadell Place and the installation of capped sheet piles into the earth levee from Cadell Place wall to Johnson St.

“Activity this week included the set-up of work site compounds in a section of the Wagga Wagga Beach carpark and the Wagga Wagga City Council carpark on the corner of Fitzmaurice and Crampton Streets.

“For safety reasons the Wiradjuri walking track from Wiradjuri Bridge to Johnson Street will be fenced and closed from Monday 14^th January while works are underway. This includes the upper levee track and lower riverside pathway,” he said.

Motorists are advised there are changes to timed parking in Crampton St and Fitzmaurice Streets. There is no change to access to Wagga Beach.

Residents, businesses and motorists are advised to be aware of increased heavy vehicle movements in the area.

To stay up to date on the levee upgrade, visit the project diary(External link).

Floodplain residents will be better protected from flood risks in North Wagga Wagga thanks to a $156,000 grant from the NSW Government, announced on 7 December 2018.

Wagga Wagga City Council has welcomed the grant that will fund a feasibility study on how best to protect residents exposed to risk from the Wagga floodplain.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Cr Greg Conkey OAM said Council welcomes the funding and will continue consultation with residents about flood protection.

“The funding is timely as Stage 1 of the Main City Levee upgrade project nears completion and Stage 2 works are scheduled to start on 7 January 2018,” Cr Conkey said.

Wagga Wagga-based MLC, Wes Fang, said recent storm and flash flooding activity across the south of the state shows the need to prepare the community now for future weather events.

“This funding allows council to better understand local needs and create a safer community into the future,” Mr Fang said.

“Ultimately, this means we’ll all have a better understanding of the potential risks so mitigation plans can be developed and at the ready should the worst happen.

“With summer now underway, this is a timely opportunity to fortify our future by protecting local residents, properties and infrastructure moving forward.”

The Government has provided $1.8 million in 2018-2019 to fund a number of projects, including the study for Wagga Wagga City Council, as part of the Floodplain Grants Scheme.

Wagga Wagga City Council has resolved to adopt the Wagga Wagga Revised Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan at the 26 March 2018 Ordinary Council Meeting.

The Draft Wagga Wagga Revised Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan was amended following submissions received during the Public Exhibition period that ran from 24 October 2017 to 6 December 2017.

During the public exhibition period, Council received 439 submissions, including:

• 397 submissions - Proforma
• 29 submissions - Individual
• 13 submissions – Online

“We would like to thank everyone who went to the effort of attending a drop-in session to learn more about the study and plan and everyone who took the time to make a submission,” Mayor of City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said.

“This is one of Council’s most important documents and we look forward to progressing with the recommended floodplain risk management measures.”

The Wagga Wagga Revised Floodplain Risk Management Study includes a full assessment of the existing flood risk in the catchment, including flood hazard across the study area, overfloor flooding of residential, commercial and industrial properties, identification of known flooding issues and hotspots, and emergency response during a flood event.

The study also assesses various measures aimed at managing this flood risk against a range of criteria, and from this assessment the Revised Floodplain Risk Management Plan recommends risk management measures.

Council will now make an application under the NSW Government’s Floodplain Management Program to undertake a North Wagga Flood Mitigation Options Feasibility Study.

The feasibility study will investigate and compare the Voluntary House Raising & Voluntary Purchase Scheme, with the North Wagga Levee Upgrade to a 5% AEP level of protection. It will also assess the feasibility of a combined approach of both the levee upgrade and the voluntary house raising and purchasing.

Residents are invited to have their say on the draft revised Wagga Wagga Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

The draft revised study and plan investigates potential mitigation options for flooding from the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga, and, makes recommendations on how the city should manage flood risks into the future.

The study area modelled for the draft revised study and plan stretches from 5km upstream of Oura to Malebo Gap downstream – a total river length of 63km.

Last night Councillors resolved to place the draft revised study and plan on public exhibition from today until November 21 2017, and invite public submissions on the draft document.

Residents can view the draft document and make a submission at www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/waggafloodplain

“Wagga Wagga is a community that lives and works on a floodplain, so it’s vitally important we are managing flood risks now and into the future,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said.

“The last Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for Wagga Wagga was completed in 2009. Since this time there has been two moderate flood events at Wagga, in 2010 and 2012, and a minor event last year.

“As well as gaining vital information from these events, there has also been major advancements in flood modelling technology, allowing a much larger area to be modelled to a greater degree of accuracy.

“A Detailed Flood Model Revision was conducted in 2014, and this draft revised document follows on from this information.”

Recommendations in the revised study and plan have been put forward by the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee.

The committee is made up of voting members, including community members and Councillors, and non-voting members, including third-party organisations and Council staff.

The recommendations have been developed through advice, studies and analysis put forward by flood and water management specialists from WMA Water.

What has the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee recommended?

Two major options that have been recommended for inclusion in the revised study and plan are to:

· Complete a feasibility study to investigate a Voluntary House Raising and Voluntary Purchase Scheme for the Wagga Wagga study area

· Complete a feasibility study to further investigate an upgrade of North Wagga Levee to 1 in 20 year level of protection with access upgrade to Hampden Avenue and conveyance improvements through Wilks Park.

“It has been proposed to complete feasibility studies together for both options to determine if either option is practical and appropriate, and which option is preferred,” Cr Conkey said.

“It is important to remember that these recommendations are not final. There are still a number of processes to follow before anything is implemented or any works are carried out.”

Other flood mitigation measures recommended for inclusion in the revised study and plan include:

• Long-term infrastructure upgrades to improve access between Wagga Wagga, Oura and Gumly Gumly via Oura Road, Wiradjuri Bridge and the Sturt Highway
• Targeted vegetation management activities
• Improved flood response strategies
• Flood-related planning policies

Detailed information on each of the options being recommended are available in the draft Study and Plan.

Have your say

A series of community pop-in sessions will be held during the public exhibition period. These sessions will include displays and information about the draft revised Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for community members to further understand the study, plan and recommendations being put forward for inclusion.

“I strongly encourage residents within the Wagga Wagga floodplain area to attend one of the pop-in sessions, meet with members of the project team and have any questions they have about the draft revised study and plan clarified,” Cr Conkey said.

“Anyone can make a public submission, and as per the recommendation put to the Council on Monday, Council staff will also be making a formal submission in response to the draft documentation.

“On conclusion of the exhibition period, all submissions will be considered in the final study and plan, which will be presented back to Council in the coming months.”

The sessions will start in November, dates and locations of these sessions will be advertised soon. In addition to these sessions, the draft revised study and plan is available now online at www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/waggafloodplain

Flood management – what else is happening in the Local Government Area?

Flood management affects all Wagga Wagga residents, and, Wagga Wagga City Council is committed to working towards long-term actions and conversations with the community about all aspects of flood management.

In addition to the draft revised Wagga Wagga Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, the following flood management projects and studies are either underway or in progress:

• Stage 1 Main City Levee upgrade – www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/levee
• Stage two of the Wagga Wagga Major Overland Flow Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan
• Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plans for Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty. Funding for these individual studies was successful received through the Floodplain Grants Scheme in August 2017

Wagga Wagga residents will start to see work on the first stage of the Main City Levee upgrade from next week.

Crews from Central West Civil, who are delivering stage 1, started site preparation yesterday.

In preparation for the heavy equipment to move in, on-site works this week include surveying and setting out of the works and installing temporary fences associated with the works.

“Having crews on site officially moves this vitally important project from concept to construction,” Director Commercial Operations Caroline Angel said.

“While, it might not look like much to start with, by mid-October residents will start to notice the heavy machinery on site, working away on the upgrade.”

Senior Project Manager Darryl Woods said upgrading the levee was a major project and some disruptions will be experienced during the works.

“To make way for the levee upgrade, some sections of the Wiradjuri Walking Track will be closed for a period of time with detours and signs in place,” Mr Woods said.

“Council and Central West Civil will aim to ensure any disruptions are kept to a minimum and we thank the community for their cooperation during the delivery of the levee upgrade.”

Stage 1 of the Main City Levee upgrade is being delivered in two stages, starting at Flowerdale and working around to Wiradjuri Bridge before moving on to Copland Street and working south to the Kooringal Road Monumental Cemetery.

Both sections consists of embankment levee earthen works and the construction of two concrete spillways, one at Flowerdale and the other upstream from Copland Street.

Stage 1 is expected to be complete by April 2018.

The Main City Levee upgrade has had to go through a thorough and considered process to reach construction. This process included many studies, designs, securing funding sources and extensive community input and feedback.

What will residents see during construction?

During the first week of construction residents will see temporary fences erected and various preparation works completed. By mid-October machinery, such as graders, diggers and trucks, will be working on site.

The stage 1 upgrade works include removing the existing topsoil and grass, shaping and scraping the existing levee to allow room for the new material and compacting the new levee to the required standards.

The slope and shape of the levee is designed to minimise erosion and will be finished off with a decomposed granite surface allowing for all-weather access and reducing moisture entry into the clay bank.

In total, machinery will move 25,000 cubic metres of clay, topsoil and granite as part of the stage 1 upgrade of the levee.

Will there be any interruptions during construction?

During construction of the levee upgrade some sections of the Wiradjuri Walking Track, which runs alongside the Murrumbidgee River, will be subject to temporary closures.

These closures are to allow for the safe construction of the levee upgrade.

Closures of the walking track associated with the Main City Levee upgrade are:

· Flowerdale Lagoon – closed for duration of project (October 2017 – April 2018)

· Copland Street/Kooringal Road roundabout to Monumental Cemetery – closed from 1 November 2017 to February 2018

All dates are subject to weather and works and any additional interruptions will be advertised accordingly.

What about Stage 2?

Stage 2 of the Main City Levee upgrade, pending tender process, is expected to start in April 2018 and be complete by the end of that year.

Stage 2 will comprise of predominately capped sheet piles that will protrude from the earth levee running the length of the Cadell Place wall (parallel to Fitzmaurice Street) to Johnson Street, then from, Riverina Playhouse to Hammond Avenue. In addition to the sheet piling, raising and extending the existing concrete retaining walls along Cadell Place and behind Watermark apartments, will also be part of this stage.

Want more?

More information on the Main City Levee upgrade is available at www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/levee

Work on upgrading one of the city’s most vital pieces of infrastructure will start on 3 October.

The official start date was announced today and coincided with the signing and exchange of contracts for the first stage of the Main City Levee upgrade.

Bathurst-based company Central West Civil will undertake the stage 1 works, which will take about six months to complete.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM, Wagga Wagga City Council General Manager Robert Knight, Council project managers and Central West Civil General Manager Simon Withers were on the levee today for the signing and exchange.

“Today’s announcement is a huge milestone in the delivery of this important project for the city,” General Manager Robert Knight said.

“The upgrade of the levee is a high priority for Council and the community, however, a thorough and considered process, involving many voices, had to be followed before we could get to this construction stage. This included community consultation, studies, designs and seeking funding sources.

“The project is now in a position where all parties are confident that what is built will be the best for the Wagga Wagga community.”

Cr Conkey said the levee upgrade has many benefits for the local community.

“We’ve had to follow an extensive process, and the community will be pleased to learn that construction of the first stage of the levee is now just weeks away,” Cr Conkey said.

“This project is a great example of what can be achieved when all levels of government work together. The levee upgrade helps safeguard our community and boosts confidence in the local economy to drive further investment.”

Wagga Wagga City Council will be able to identify flood mitigation measures for three villages after it was successful in securing funding from the Floodplain Grants Scheme.

Director Commercial Operations Caroline Angel says a Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (FRMSP) will now be developed for Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty.

“The $132,000 from the NSW and Federal Governments will be matched by $66,000 from Council and is the next step in a process Council began with each community in 2014 when it conducted data collection and developed flood studies for the villages.

“Each village requires its own Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan due to the unique nature of the flood risks from localised overland flows and swollen creeks bursting their banks.

“Council first applied for funding for this project in February 2016 and is pleased to see that it has now been successful so that we can move forward with the process.”

The Villages FRMSP will assist Council in developing strategic plans for mitigating and managing the effects of existing, future and continuing flood risk.

“The objective of this project is to provide Council with an understanding of current levels of flood risk within these villages, to formulate a plan to mitigate and/or manage these risks effectively and to inform Council’s planning strategies on the future land use and development within the flood prone land,” Ms Angel added.

“Each community will be consulted during the process.”

This project will be in addition to work already underway to upgrade the main city levee, review of the Wagga Wagga Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan and Stage two the Wagga Wagga Major Overland Flow Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

The Flood Studies for Uranquinty, Tarcutta and Ladysmith that were adopted in 2015 can be found on the Villages flood page.

Released 24 June 2017:

Construction of one of the city’s most important pieces of infrastructure is another step closer.

The Council at Monday night’s ordinary meeting approved staff to enter into discussions with a preferred tenderer to build stage one of the Main City levee upgrade.

Pending the outcome of these discussions, a tender will be awarded and a start date for construction determined.

The report to the June Council Meeting also provided councillors with a comprehensive update on the recent tender evaluation process for stage one of the levee construction.

Stage one consists of two sections – Flowerdale to Wiradjuri Bridge, and, Kooringal / Copland Street roundabout to Wagga Wagga Monumental Cemetery. The second section being, Wiradjuri Bridge to Kooringal / Copland Street roundabout.

“The decision by Councillors for staff to proceed with negotiations is a giant leap forward in delivering this high profile and highly important project to the Wagga Wagga community,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said.

“The levee upgrade will be delivered at a cost of $23M, which is being funded by all levels of government, and will offer a greater level of assurance to Wagga Wagga residents and businesses.

“Pending discussions with the preferred tenderer, residents should start to see works on the levee banks by spring.”

In addition to the stage one construction, a review of the city’s Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan is also underway, with new documentation expected to be complete and adopted by the end of the year.

At the August ordinary meeting, Council adopted the Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty Flood Studies Final Report.

Council will now make an application under the NSW Government's Floodplain Management grants program to proceed with a Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for those villages.

The flood studies report had been on public exhibition for an extended period to allow consultation sessions to be held, which were well attended by the community.

One submission was received in in response to the public exhibition, relating to levee and drainage maintenance issues and potential works that may be identified in a future Flood Risk Management Study and Plan.

The full report can be found on the Villages flood page.

At the July Council Meeting it was resolved to proceed with the construction of the Main City Levee to provide 1 in 100 year level of protection.

An allowance will be made for the possibility that the North Wagga levees may also be constructed to provide a 1 in 100 year level of protection, and an investigation into providing a 1 in 100 year level of protection for North Wagga will be incorporated in the upcoming review of the Wagga Wagga Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

You can read the full report that went to the July 2015 Policy and Strategy Meeting here.

This report incorporates the results of community consultation, as well as the North Wagga Wagga Levee Options and Third Party Impacts Report as an attachment.

A report titled ‘Levee upgrade detailed design & community consultation’ will be considered at the July Policy and Strategy Committee Meeting, starting 6pm Monday 13 July 2015 in the Council Chambers.

The report takes into account feedback that was received at six community information session held in March 2015, as well as survey results collected via the Your Say Wagga website.

The recommendation is as follows:

That Council:

a) proceed with construction of the Main City levee to provide a 1 in 100 year level of protection, making allowance for the possibility that the North Wagga levees may also be constructed to provide a 1 in 100 year level of protection

b) incorporate an investigation into providing a 1 in 100 year level of protection for North Wagga into the upcoming review of the Wagga Wagga Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan

You can read the report in full here.

The agenda for the full meeting can be found here.

If you wish to address the meeting you can apply to do so by filling out this application form

Please read the rules on the second page so that you are aware of the conditions before making your application.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Rod Kendall, is reminding all residents to take part in two surveys about the future of flood management in the city.

Cr Kendall has recorded a special message to encourage the community to take part in the surveys, which cover Main City and North Wagga levee options, and alternative flood management options for North Wagga.

“We’re now asking all community members to take part in a survey,” Cr Kendall said. “Give us your opinion on what Council should do.”

For more information and to access the surveys, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/floodsurvey. New Your Say Wagga users will need to register to complete the surveys.

If you are unable to access the surveys or require more information, contact Council’s Community Engagement Officer Lauren Fitzgerald on 1300 292 442 or communityengagement@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

Wagga Wagga City Council is hosting a series of community information sessions this week to present the village flood study for Uranquinty.

Drafted by consultant Lyall and Associates, the study provides flood planning and flood management advice for Uranquinty, showing areas of inundation for floods of various recurrence intervals and information on high hazard areas.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

7pm Tuesday 24 March: Uranquinty, Uranquinty Community Centre
7pm Wednesday 25 March: Ladysmith, Ladysmith Memorial Hall
6pm Thursday 26 March: Tarcutta, Tarcutta RSL Club

You can read the draft reports in the document library.

If you have any questions in relation to these meetings please contact Lauren Fitzgerald on 6926 9139 or email communityengagement@wagga.nsw.gov.au

More than 200 members of the Wagga Wagga community have been given an update on the future of flood management over the past fortnight.

Information sessions were held for the Oura, Gumly Gumly, North Wagga, East Wagga and Eunony areas, before a general update on Thursday for the CBD and the remainder of the community.

Each meeting covered the detailed investigation and design process for the Main City and North Wagga levee upgrade project and alternative flood management options for North Wagga, which were put forward by the community in the past.

With the six sessions complete, Mayor of the City of Wagga Councillor Rod Kendall is calling all residents and businesses to complete two surveys to help best inform Council before a decision is made in July.

“We’re talking about people’s homes and people’s livelihoods – this is an issue my fellow Councillors and I take very seriously,” Cr Kendall said.

“We as a community are working towards a decision that will impact us all for decades to come and we must get it right.

“I urge everyone to complete the two surveys and make sure everyone’s voice is heard as these flood management options will impact us all in different ways.”

The first survey covers the detailed levee design for a 1 in 100 Main City levee and a 1 in 20 North Wagga levee, while the other focuses on all flood management options for North Wagga.

The detailed levee designs are being undertaken by NSW Public Works and are based on extensive flood modelling and detailed investigations carried out over the past six months.

For more information and to access the surveys, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/floodsurvey. New Your Say Wagga users will need to register to complete the surveys. The surveys are open until Sunday 3 May.

If you have no access to the internet or require help to complete the survey, contact Council’s Community Engagement Officer Lauren Fitzgerald on 1300 292 442 or communityengagement@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

Wagga Wagga City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from members of the community to join the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee.

The Committee is made up of Council and Emergency Management staff and various stakeholder representatives overseeing the implementation of the objectives of the Floodplain Risk Management Plan in the Wagga Wagga Local Government area. The Committee meets every two months to discuss issues and to progress agreed actions. The duration of the committee meetings is approximately two hours.

One (1) vacancy exists on the Committee and applications are now invited from persons interested in contributing to the work of this committee in a voluntary position that attracts no remuneration.

Applications will be received up to 5:00pm on Friday, 20 March 2015, from interested persons to serve on the Committee. Application forms are available from the Customer Service Centre at the Civic Centre, cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets, Wagga Wagga or can be downloaded.

Applications should be addressed ‘Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee’ and returned to PO Box 20, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, or emailed to council@wagga.nsw.gov.au

Applicants must clearly outline in their application:

• An understanding of the floodplain and associated issues
• A willingness to contribute to the community in the best interest of the community
• The ability to inform the local community of the deliberations of the committee
• The ability to facilitate representations to the committee on behalf of the local community

Further information regarding this Committee may be made by contacting Jessica Crawford at Council on 1300 292 442.

The overland flood studies for Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty have been presented to Council and will be on public exhibition for three months.

This exhibition period is significantly longer than the usual 28 days, to allow enough time for the community to review and consider the studies, and make a submission if they wish.

Drafted by consultant Lyall and Associates, the studies provide flood planning and flood management advice for three villages, showing areas of inundation for floods of various recurrence intervals and also information on high hazard areas.

The detailed documents can be found in the library section on this page.

Community consultation sessions will be held with each village. Residents will be notified of the date and time of the upcoming sessions when finalised.

Detailed investigations into the existing levee systems for Main City and North Wagga have been completed.

These investigations included geotechnical engineering investigations & terrestrial laser survey inspections, and involved drilling along the levee systems to substantiate the materials beneath the levee in order to inform the appropriate design.

The data collected by the NSW public Works, subcontractors and surveyors will now be used to put together 3D spatial data and photographic imagery that will be made available to the public when the data is finalised.

This imaging will allow the community to get a sense of what the potential upgraded levee will look like, compared to the existing levee. It is anticipated that this information will be available later in the year and Council will then be facilitating a number of opportunities for the community to have input and provide feedback.

For more information please contact Lauren Fitzgerald or Brett Koschel on communityengagement@wagga.nsw.gov.au(External link) or phone 1300 292 442.

In the lead up to the detailed designs of the Main City and North Wagga levee systems, detailed investigations will start Monday on the existing levee systems. These investigations will include geotechnical engineering investigations & terrestrial laser survey inspections.

The geotechnical investigations, expected to take approximately two weeks, will involve drilling along the levee systems to substantiate the materials beneath the levee in order to inform the appropriate design.

NSW Public Works will be carrying out drilling and testing on the levee materials with the information feeding into the levee design to ensure that the upgraded levee design is in accordance with safe engineering design standards.

Subcontractors will use a drill rig mounted on the back of a 4WD. The rig specialises in the powerful push-tube drilling method, which provides a continuous sample of the subsurface profile; however, it can easily switch between drilling methods and perform auger drilling, if required.

Surveyors will also be in the field collecting data in the coming weeks. The surveyors will capture data in some residential streets and other locations along the levee. This information will contain both 3D spatial data and photographic imagery. The 3D spatial data and imagery will then be integrated and published to a web-based viewer for the community to access, similar to Google Street View that will allow the viewer to see the existing levee and a model of the upgraded levee laid over the image.

The NSW Government is reforming native vegetation management in NSW to deliver multiple benefits and strike the right balance between efficient agricultural management and protecting the environment.

In response to recommendations made to government, the first three self-assessable codes of practice have been drafted. They cover low risk clearing activities, including: thinning native vegetation, clearing isolated paddock trees in a cultivated area and clearing invasive native species.

The NSW Government is currently seeking community input until 26 May 2014.

To share your views visit the website

At the April 2014 Council Meeting, the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) report for the proposed upgrade of the Main City and North Wagga levee systems was adopted by Council. You can now view the report here.

The Wagga Wagga Detailed Flood Model Revision Report is on public exhibition for 28 days. Council staff and Report author Stephen Gray from WMA Water will provide an overview of the report to interested community embers at two public meetings in North Wagga and Gumly Gumly.

This modelling takes into account the two most recent floods, changes in vegetation on the floodplain and development. Residents are invited to hear a short presentation about the revised model and the report findings.

6pm Wednesday 21 May 2014

North Wagga Hall

6pm Wednesday 28 May 2014

East Wagga Football Club

For more information please contact Vanessa Keenan on 6926 9197 or email keenan.vanessa@wagga.nsw.gov.au

View the presentation of the Revised Flood Modelling to the Wagga Wagga Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee

At its October Meeting, Council endorsed placing the draft Review of Environmental Factors (REF) Report on public exhibition.

This document has been developed to assist the next stage of the proposed levee upgrade. The REF outlines the social, cultural and environmental issues to be considered in the detailed designs. The information was gathered by the consultants GHD through research and community consultation such as at the FloodFutures Community Meetings. Residents who attended these meetings may recall Rueben Robinson from GHD speaking about the environmental & social impacts.

The graphic below, shown at the community meetings, outlines the process. As you can see, the Review of Environmental Factors report occurs at the early stages of the project.

Feedback in the submissions received from residents about the planned upgrade that related to these issues was also forwarded to GHD for consideration in this report.

This document is the final part of the conceptual stage of the project. After the REF has been placed on exhibition and adopted by Council, the detailed design will proceed at the same time as further detailed consultation with the community exploring alternatives to upgrading the North Wagga levee to a 1 in 20 year level of protection as adopted by Council in May 2013.

The REF documents will be on public exhibition until 5pm Monday 25 November 2013.

Read through the documents below and make a submission here.

Wagga Wagga City Council’s FloodFutures community engagement project has been awarded the 2013 Resilient Australia NSW Award in the Local Government category. Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Rod Kendall accepted the award at a ceremony at Parliament House in Sydney last Friday.

“FloodFutures was created by Wagga Wagga City Council’s Communications and Engagement team to enable the community to have a greater understanding of floodplain management, assess how issues relating to the floodplain could affect them now and in the future, and ensure they could be involved in decision making on the issue,” Mayor Rod Kendall said.

“The FloodFutures community conversation has been extremely successful and increased the profile and awareness of the levee upgrade across our entire Local Government Area.

“FloodFutures has provided an overarching and ongoing communication tool and community resource for all information relating to managing risks associated with living on a floodplain.

“This award shows that Wagga Wagga City Council is a community leader in floodplain management and community responsiveness.”

To date, the Flood Futures community engagement project has had more than 3000 visitors to the dedicated website, with over 6300 document downloads, and hundreds of local residents attending community meetings.

Wagga Wagga City Council will now be eligible for the National Resilient Australia Award which will be announced later this year.

The Resilient Australia Awards is an Australian Government initiative that recognise innovative practices and achievements across the nation that are making our communities safer, stronger, more resilient and better prepared to manage any emergency situation. The awards cover all aspects of community safety and resilience with an emergency management focus including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery; risk assessment; research; education and training and information and knowledge management.

Almost 12 months since Wagga Wagga’s disastrous March 2012 floods, 24 residents recalled their harrowing experiences for a significant oral history collection launched by the State Librarian of NSW, at Wagga Wagga City Library.

“Allowing communities to tell their own story is vital and, thanks to our partnership with Wagga Wagga City Library, locals now have a valuable record of personal narratives on this major event with the Wagga Wagga Floods March 2012 Oral History Project,” says Alex Byrne, NSW State Librarian & Chief Executive.

“These first-hand accounts increase our understanding of how a community under siege responds to an extreme weather event. And, with the environment under the spotlight, the State Library is committed to collecting oral histories from across NSW to provide meaningful records for present and future generations and research.”

Recorded in the months following the floods by local historian and author Sherry Morris, the Wagga Wagga Floods March 2012 Oral History Project contains over 25 hours of interviews with 24 locals providing different perspectives on their flood experience.

The Project captures the voices of young and old residents, recent immigrants, farmers, council workers and emergency personnel, with moving stories recalling the brutal reality of damaged property, lost heirlooms and comparisons to past flood experiences.

North Wagga Wagga resident Virginia Anderson, whose house was severely damaged, described her shock at the residue left after water levels dropped: “That mud is something else. It’s not just mud, it’s effluent and dead animal and petrol and I’ve never smelt anything like it. I think I will always remember the smell of the floods.”

The audio files are now available to listen to on the https://amplify.gov.au/ website.

This project was funded by the State Library of NSW

Following from issues raised regarding poor drainage in North Wagga, Council have developed a program of works in one of the most impacted areas. Detailed survey and draft designs for a stormwater drainage works to address these drainage issues in the eastern area of North Wagga are now being finalised.

Council staff met with the North Wagga Residents Association on 7 August 2013 to provide an overview of works.

Residents who will be directly impacted by the drainage works will be contacted by letter once designs are finalised. This will be prior to construction works commencing.

The Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH) are currently conducting 'drop-in' community information meetings across the region to gain community feedback on the proposal to increase environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee River.

The OEH will be in Oura this afternoon (Tuesday 12 February 2013) at the Oura Community Centre from 4pm - 6pm and at the Collingullie Memorial Hall from 8am-10am tomorrow morning (Wednesday 13 February 2013). You can find out more about this consultation via the OEH website

Council officers have recently received, from the NSW Office of Water, the revised rating tables for the Murrumbidgee River. The revised rating tables incorporate the December 2010 and March 2012 flood event data. Council officers are currently discussing the revised rating tables with Council’s modelling consultant.

As advised at the community meetings, Council has been awaiting this information for incorporation into the detailed designs of the proposed levee upgrade and as further supporting data for our flood modelling.

The revised rating tables will result in the 1 in 100 year flood level changing and as a result the flood modelling will need to be revised to determine a new design level of the upgrade of the levees. This information will then be utilised during the detailed design phase of the project to ensure that the levee systems are designed using the most up to date information available.

Community involvement and responses to FloodFutures, in particular, the proposed levee upgrade has been significant.

Hundreds of people have come along to five community meetings across the local government area and submissions are starting to come in. On the FloodFutures website, there have been over 3,900 site visits and more than 2,300 document downloads.

With so many members of our community living and working on the floodplain it's important to ensure there is a diversity of experiences, views and opinions represented.

Minutes(External link) from the Gumly Gumly. North Wagga, Central Wagga, Oura and Collingullie FloodFutures community meetings are available for your reference.

Community opinion was varied with a number of important issues, concerns, experiences and ideas raised as part of the community meeting process.

Strong themes to emerge from these meetings included:

• Development on the floodplain
• Alternatives to levees and,
• Consideration for upgrading the Main City Levee only.

These themes have been highlighted for further discussion on our forum and we encourage you to reference the community meeting minutesand have your say.

Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from community members for three vacant positions on the Wagga Wagga City Council Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee. This committee is made of represetnatives from Council Staff, Councillors, Emergency Services and the community. EOI's close on 8 February 2013. Further information and the application form can be found here.

Council has scheduled a number of Community Information Sessions to discuss the documents currently on public exhibition and seeking input. The proposed levee upgrade is a project that affects the whole community. There are over 6,000 properties on the floodplain in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area and these Community Information Sessions are one of several ways you can find out more information.

Council's Infrastructure Planning staff will conduct a presentation detailing the levee upgrade project at the following locations:

• Gumly Gumly Hall Community Information Session 6pm-8pm
  22 November 2012
• North Wagga Community Information Session 6pm-8pm
  29 November 2012
• Wagga CBD Community Information Session 6pm-8pm
  04 December 2012
• Oura Community Information Session 6pm - 8pm
  06 December 2012
• Collingullie Community Information Session 6pm-8pm
  12 December 2012