Have Your Say on
Flooding in Your Area

Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty Floodplain Risk Management Studies & Plans

On behalf of Wagga Wagga City Council, GRC Hydro are undertaking Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans for Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty. We would like to hear your experiences of flooding to better understand how flooding occurs in your area and what measures may improve the current flood situation.

These studies and plans will identify and recommend appropriate actions to manage flooding in your area. This study will be used by Council to manage flood risks in your area.


What is the Floodplain Risk Management Program?

The Floodplain Risk Management Program is run by the NSW Government. This program helps councils make informed decisions about managing flood risk, implementing management plans to reduce flood risk and to provide essential information to the SES to deal with flood emergency response.

This program consists of five stages and the current study will undertake the third and fourth stages of this process; Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan. This follows on from the Flood Study that was completed in 2014.

The stages of the Floodplain Risk Management Program are presented below:


Flooding in Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty
Tarcutta
Flooding in Tarcutta is caused by heavy rainfall in the catchment of Tarcutta Creek causing it to break its banks and spread over its floodplain. There is a second source of flooding, referred to as overland flow flooding. This occurs when rainfall in the vicinity of the town causes flooding as it flows towards the creek. Mainstream and overland flow flooding can occur simultaneously, or separately.

Ladysmith
Flooding in Ladysmith is caused by heavy rainfall in the catchment of Kyeamba Creek causing it to break its banks and spread over it’s floodplain. There is a second source of flooding, referred to as overland flow flooding. This occurs when rainfall in the vicinity of the town causes flooding as it flows towards the creek. Mainstream and overland flow flooding can occur simultaneously, or separately.

Uranquinty
Flooding in Uranquinty is caused by heavy rainfall in the catchment of Sandy Creek causing it to break its banks and spread over it’s floodplain. There is a second source of flooding, referred to as overland flow flooding. This occurs when rainfall in the vicinity of the town causes flooding as it flows towards the creek. Mainstream and overland flow flooding can occur simultaneously, or separately.
Overland Flow
Flooding

Overland flow flooding occurs as rainfall runoff moves toward downstream waterways.


Mainstream
Flooding

Creek flooding occurs when runoff from streets and drains flows into waterways causing them to rise and inundate areas that are usually dry


What is a floodplain risk management study and plan?

A floodplain risk management study and plan (FRMS&P) follows a flood study. A flood study is a comprehensive technical investigation of flood behaviour which defines the nature of flood risk in the LGA by providing information on the extent, level and velocity of floodwaters for a full range of flood magnitudes.

A FRMS&P draws on the results of the flood study to identify, assess and compare various flood risk management options and opportunities aimed at improving the existing flood situation in the LGA. It provides information and tools to allow considered assessment of flood impacts of management options and provides a strategic plan for implementation. Management options are typically categorised as property modification measures, response modification measures and flood modification measures.


What is a FRMS&P used for?

A FRMS&P provides key information for Council, the SES and the community for effectively managing and mitigating flood risk.

For Council, FRMS&P’s are primarily a planning tool for future development in the LGA and implementing flood mitigation measures for existing development areas. Examples of applications for Council are listed below:
    + Examination of Council’s local flood risk management policies, strategies and planning instruments; and
    + Identification and assessment of floodplain risk management measures for existing development areas aimed at reducing social, environmental and economic loss of flooding on development and the community.

Information from the FRMS&P will assist the SES in its evacuation and logistics planning. The outcomes of the study will provide the SES with:
    + a clear description of flood behaviour in the study area for a full range of flood events;
    + a description of flood warning times for the LGA; and
    + identification of critical evacuation issues in the LGA such as locations where road access is cut and the warning time before road access is cut.


The Study Areas
The Tarcutta, Ladysmith and Uranquinty Flood Studies were completed in late 2014 and outcomes from the flood studies have formed the basis of the current study.


Tarcutta
Tarcutta was severely impacted by flooding in October 2010, with floodwaters overtopping the levee banks, eight properties flooded and residents evacuated to the RSL. Flooding in March 2012 also caused property inundation but was generally less severe than 2010.


Ladysmith
Ladysmith was severely impacted by flooding in October 2010, with floodwaters causing inundation of three residential properties. Flooding in March 2012 also caused property inundation but was generally less severe than 2010.


Uranquinty
Uranquinty was severely impacted by flooding in October 2010, with floodwaters causing inundation of more than 20 properties. Flooding in March 2012 also caused property inundation but was generally less severe than 2010.

Why your feedback is important
GRC Hydro will use computer models developed in the flood studies to assess flood mitigation measures. This process involves identifying areas that are significantly flood affected and assessing flood modification measures to relieve the flood risk at these locations. Community input and knowledge of measures that might mitigate flooding in the LGA is invaluable to this study.


How you can help us
Your feedback is important in helping us get a complete picture of the communities knowledge of potential mitigation measures in your town. Please share your experiences and knowledge with us by completing the questionnaire linked below.


What happens next?
GRC Hydro will assess flood modification measures and will present draft findings to Council’s Floodplain Management Committee. Following further discussion, the draft report containing recommended measures will be placed on Public Exhibition in 2019.


Who can you contact for more information?
If you have any further questions regarding the study or any further flood information/photos please attach them to your questionnaire or contact the following representatives.


Shaula Siregar Lead Engineer – Water and Waste Assets,
Wagga Wagga City Council
[email protected]
(02) 6926 9547


Please fill out just the one questionnaire that applies to your area.