Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 Published By
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Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 Published by: Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority PO Box 1752, Shepparton 3632 © Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, 2018 Please cite this document as: Goulburn Broken CMA (2018) Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton. ISBN: 978-1-876600-11-2 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you, but the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority does not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequences that may arise from you relying on information in this publication. Note specific reference to funding levels in this strategy are for indicative purposes only. The level of Government investment in this strategy will depend upon budgets and Government priorities For further information, please contact: Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Floodplain management P.O. Box 1752, Shepparton 3632 Ph. (03) 5822 7700 Visit: www.gbcma.vic.gov.au The Goulburn Broken CMA would like to thank those who contributed to the development of this strategy, in particular the Steering Committee and Working Groups comprising local government representatives from Benalla Rural City, Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi and Strathbogie as well as representatives from VICSES, EMV, GVW, G-MW, RDV, DELWP, TCAC, YYNAC, Parks Victoria and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. We would also like to thank members of the community who attended forums, made submissions and provided support and advice. II Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 The Strategy The Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy (the Strategy), together with related national, state and regional documents and a range of related sub-strategies, underpin the Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS). This Strategy presents an integrated catchment planning framework for floodplain management in the Goulburn Broken region and is the primary guide for improving community flood resilience. The strategy is intended to be adaptable and able to respond to new information or because new opportunities or priorities change. International framework The Australian Government has ratified several international human rights instruments that recognise and maintain Indigenous peoples’ special connection to land and waters and provide for the right to practice, revitalise, teach and develop culture, customs and spiritual practices. The Strategy recognises the significant contribution that can be made by indigenous peoples towards implementing the Strategy and the legal requirements to consult. The Vision Through partnerships, improve the flood resilience of the catchment’s people, infrastructure, land and water resources. Implementing the Strategy The implementation of this Strategy will be influenced by available funding and resources. Investment proposals to support actions within the strategy will be developed as investment opportunities arise. This is expected to be influenced by new information, community support and the impacts of extreme climatic events within the region, such as bushfire, drought and floods. The Strategy will be implemented within an “adaptive framework”, with continued reviews incorporated into an annual planning cycle. Guiding Principles The Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028, like the Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy 2013-2019, is underpinned by a resilience approach to catchment management. Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 III Foreword Floodplains in the Goulburn Broken Catchment are crucially important to our agriculture, food processing, forestry and tourism industries: the industries that underpin our regional economy. However, major floods can destroy crops and livestock, cause significant social and economic hardship for individuals and businesses, disrupt communities, damage property and, in some cases, lead to loss of life. The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority has partnered with our community and all tiers of government to guide future floodplain management through the Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018–2028. The Strategy focuses on improving community resilience and managing the environmental values of floodplains. It recognises the importance of Traditional Owners’ intrinsic connection with waterways and floodplains. This Strategy has been largely guided by the 2016 Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy and incorporates requirements of the Climate Change Act 2017. As Chair, I commend the Strategy’s resilience approach, which aligns with the Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy 2013-19 and builds the capacity of communities to make well-informed decisions that minimise or avoid the impact of major floods. Community access to reliable information is the best way to help stakeholders prepare for living in a floodplain area. This is why sharing reliable information is a priority action within all four of the Strategy’s program themes: Flood Mitigation, Total Flood Warning Systems, Land-use Planning and Municipal Flood Emergency Plans. This Strategy will be implemented within an adaptive management framework. This means future management approaches will be flexible enough to embrace opportunities such as new technologies, or to cope with emerging pressures such as urban growth. By combining clear accountabilities, strong community engagement, partnerships and technical rigour to improve flood resilience, floodplain management actions will continue to be guided by their feasibility, the needs of the community and the availability of resources. Importantly, the Strategy’s Action–Investment Plan forms the business case for investment by all tiers of government to implement floodplain management actions. The success of implementing the Strategy will rely on funding initiatives such as the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme and through the monitoring, review, reporting and improvement plan process. I am proud to share the vision for this Strategy with our partners, who have signed below. Annie Volkering Chair, Goulburn Broken CMA IV Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 We the undersigned… commend the consultative process that was undertaken by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority to develop the Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy and look forward to working in partnership with other stakeholders to deliver the Strategy outcomes. CEO CEO CEO Benalla Rural City Campaspe Shire Council City of Greater Shepparton CEO CEO CEO Mansfield Shire Council Mitchell Shire Council Moira Shire Council CEO CEO Murrindindi Shire Council Strathbogie Shire Council Victoria SES (North East) CEO CEO CEO Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Goulburn Valley Water Goulburn-Murray Water Corporation CEO Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Regional Development Victoria Regional Manager Corporation Parks Victoria Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 V Table of Contents PART A: THE STRATEGY 1 Chapter 1: Strategic context 2 1.1 Background 2 1.2 Introduction 3 1.3 The three flood problems 3 1.4 Developing the Strategy for stakeholders 4 1.5 Purpose, vision and objectives of the Strategy 4 1.6 Scope 5 1.7 Resilience: alignment with the National, Victorian and Regional approaches 5 1.8 Climate change to be part of all future studies 8 1.9 Description of the region 9 1.10 Floodplains within the Goulburn Broken region 12 1.10.1 Environmental factors linkages 14 1.10.2 Murray Riverina 14 1.10.3 Goulburn River 17 1.10.4 Broken River Catchment 22 1.10.5 Broken Creek Catchment 23 1.11 Role of vegetation and woody habitat 24 1.12 Cross border issues 26 1.13 Aboriginal connection to Country – waterways and floodplains 27 1.13.1 Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation 28 1.13.2 Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation 28 1.13.3 Consultation requirements and partnerships 29 1.14 Flooding versus drainage 30 1.15 Integrated catchment management – identifying threats and opportunities 31 Chapter 2: Service level and previous strategy assessments 32 2.1 Overview 32 2.2 Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2002 32 2.3 Service levels for structural mitigation works 34 2.3.1 Management arrangements for rural levees 34 2.3.2 Irrigation Infrastructure acting as levees 36 2.4 Service levels for total flood warning systems 36 2.4.1 Managing the rain and stream flow gauge network across the region 37 2.4.2 Maximising flood resilience within the TFWS program 37 2.4.3 Stakeholder engagement and access to flood data to improve flood preparedness 38 2.5 Service levels for land-use planning 40 2.6 Municipal Flood Emergency Plans 41 Chapter 3: Priority setting 42 3.1 Overview 42 3.2 Risk assessment 42 3.3 Major vulnerable communities and infrastructure 43 3.4 Other factors in priority setting 43 VI Goulburn Broken Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2018-2028 Chapter 4: Strategy Implementation 44 4.1 Overview 44 4.2 Monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and improvement (MERI) Plan 44 4.3 Good practice implementation of the Action-Investment implementation 45 4.4 Community engagement and responsibilities 46 4.4.1 Community-based committees under the Water Act 1989 46 4.5 Sharing information 47 4.6 Activities and works controls