Flood study will lead to planning measures

New planning controls and stormwater measures could result from a flood study on the Peninsula, Gosford Council's flooding unit advisor Mr Vic Tysoe has told Peninsula News.

The flood study will lead to a risk management study which would recommend planning controls and stormwater infrastructure measures that are ecologically sustainable and affordable, he said.

"It will be used by council to define minimum floor levels for new development.

"It will assist council in prioritising the definition of areas requiring water sensitive urban design landscaping works to manage nuisance stormwater flooding."

Mr Tysoe said the study would be performed by consultants for council and would be managed by council's Floodplain Risk Management Committee.

"Public participation is an integral part of council's flood management process, right through from the flood study to the final development of a sustainable floodplain risk management plan," Mr Tysoe said.

"Expressions of Interest for public participation were called for earlier this year and as a result a representative from the Peninsula Residents Association was made a temporary member of the committee for the duration of the study.

"Upon its completion the study will be advertised to the public for comment before it is recommended for adoption by council.

"Council will shortly commission a consultant who will be required to collect flood and drainage data."

Mr Tysoe said the public would be encouraged to supply information that would assist with the study."

Mr Tysoe said that the council had a grant from the State Government to prepare the flood study.

"Council has matched this in both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 Capital Works Programs.

"This is the first step in developing a Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the area.

"The estimated cost of the study is $100,000 and it is anticipated that it will take up to 12 months to complete."

Mr Tysoe said that there were several reasons for the study.

"Much of the Peninsula area is prone to nuisance flooding, especially from long-duration rainfall events," Mr Tysoe said.

"Flooding occurs in road reserves and in private property, where it remains until it infiltrates or evaporates.

"Generally this nuisance flooding may remain for a couple of days.

"However, during very wet periods the water table can rise such that flooding remains for several weeks."

Mr Tysoe said the two main objectives of the study were data collection and the preparation of a flood study, in accordance with the State Governments Floodplain Development Manual.

Lyle Stone, 5 Jul 2007