MINUTES

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THURSDAY, 4 MARCH 2021 COMMENCING AT 10:30 AM

PRESENT

Councillor John Dal Broi (Chair), Councillor Dino Zappacosta, Joseph Dal Broi (Community Representative - ZOOM), Sally Jones (Community Representative), Steve Manwaring (Stakeholder - ZOOM), Steve Mortlock (Stakeholder), Alan Shea (Stakeholder - ZOOM), Darryl Heaslip (Stakeholder – ZOOM)

Quorum = 3

STAFF

General Manager, Brett Stonestreet, Director Utilities, Graham Gordon, Water and Wastewater Manager, Durgananda Chaudhary, Engineering Design & Approvals Manager, Joe Rizzo, Director Sustainable Development, Phil Harding and Minute Secretary, Leanne Austin

1 APOLOGIES

RECOMMENDED on the motion of Steve Mortlock and Councillor Dino Zappacosta that apologies be received from Luigi Forner (Community Representative), Peter Budd (Community Representative), Craig Ronan (Stakeholder) and Paul Farrell ( Shire).

2 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDED on the motion of Steve Mortlock and Councillor Dino Zappacosta that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 December 2020, having first been circulated amongst all members, be confirmed.

3 BUSINESS ARISING

Nil.

4 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Pecuniary Interests

There were no pecuniary interests declared.

Significant Non-Pecuniary Interests

There were no significant non-pecuniary interests declared.

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

Less Than Significant Non-Pecuniary Interests

Members making a less than significant non-pecuniary interest declaration may stay in the meeting and participate in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Dino Zappacosta CL02 Funding for Hanwood Stormwater Pump and Drainage Works Reason – Councillor Zappacosta has businesses in the Hanwood area.

Sally Jones CL03 Yenda Flood Maps Revision Reason – Ms Jones owns a rural property on the Creek below Barren Box Storage and Wetland and at Yenda.

5 ITEMS OF BUSINESS

CL01 DC605J CULVERT UPGRADE - STAGE 1 CONSTRUCTION

Graham Gordon provided an overview of the Yoogali Culvert upgrade. Stage 1 Construction: Installation of pipe culvert at two locations: (1) McCormack Road – Bosanquet Road junction: completed. (2) McCormack Road – junction: (a) Reapply for RMS work permit. First application has expired after 6 months. (b) Work can start soon after Easter or after receiving the work permit from RMS.

Stage 2 Construction: Levee along McCormack Road: Funding application 2021/22 will be submitted by 18 March 2021.

Issues and Challenges include RMS approval, COVID issues, managing continuous flow of DC605J and Main Drain J and services relocation e.g. high pressure gas, optic fibre, water mains.

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

Mr Gordon advised neighbours adjacent to the works had been consulted with. Works and bitumen sealing are to be extended to ensure a better outcome for property owners.

Ms Jones requested an update on costing of the project and the impact of Covid-19. Mr Gordon advised that 2/3 funding had been provided by the State Government with 1/3 Council. Tenders received came in high so the design has been scaled back and a variation in funding approved. The cost is approximately $700,000 for both culvert upgrades as a lump sum tender.

Councillor Zappacosta enquired about the submission received relating to upgrade of culverts referred to in the Action Report. Mr Gordon advised the submission raised concerns regarding a property on the eastern side of Main Drain J. Minimal spillage of water may occur over Main Drain J with farmland affected only. The bank will be stabilised to cater for the velocity of the water.

CL02 FUNDING FOR HANWOOD STORMWATER PUMP AND DRAINAGE WORKS Mr Gordon provided a presentation on the Hanwood pump and drainage works.

Stage1 Construction: Stormwater Pump and associated Drainage Works

Council has received $1,000,000 funding from DPIE. Next steps include documentation and tendering to be prepared and RMS Work permit application. Project completion by 2022.

A levy is proposed to be built around Hanwood if funding is successful.

Councillor Zappacosta enquired where the water from the pump goes and who is responsible for the maintenance of this? Mr Gordon advised the water is pumped through DCA to Crook Road – Main Drain J. Mr Shea responded that Murrumbidgee Irrigation maintains this channel for irrigation drainage purposes.

CL03 YENDA FLOOD MAPS REVISION The Mayor tabled a letter received from Paul Rossetto.

Revised maps were sent to the Committee 21 January 2021 and presented to Council Workshop 16 February 2021. The flood maps are currently on public exhibition following resolution at the Council Meeting on 23 February 2021. Submissions will be received up to 2 April 2021. A public consultation will be held 18 March at the Yenda Diggers Club commencing at 5:30 pm.

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

The revised Flood maps take into consideration flood mitigation works including Flood Warning System 2018, Emergency Breaching protocols 2018 and EMR Floodgates 2019.

The Mirrool Creek Flood Warning System comprises of a flood gauge at Bridge and at the EMR Siphon, rain gauge at Barellan Bridge; linked to DPIE and BOM flood warning system and live flood level monitoring at “Water Live”.

Mr Manwaring advised Water NSW are managing the flood gauge and it appears to be reading correctly.

Emergency Breaching Protocols have been established as follows:  EMR Siphon flood capacity = 5% AEP (1 in 20 yr flood)  EMR Siphon + Floodgates flood capacity = 2% AEP (1 in 50 yr flood)  Breaching of Main Canal for events greater than 2% AEP  Council + MI + SES to act based on live flood gauge data and BOM forecast.

Council, Murrumbidgee Irrigation and SES are to act based on live flood gauge data and BOM forecast.

The new EMR floodgates are automated and SCADA controlled resulting in the following improvements:

Flood Model Update

Following updates have been made to the TUFLOW model and subsequent flood mapping process. • The TUFLOW version has been updated to the 2020-01-AB release from the 2018- 03-AA. • The work-as-executed details of the recently constructed floodgate structures have been incorporated. • Survey data of the Northern Branch Canal embankment crest levels following the recent MI NBC widening project have been incorporated to update the embankment crest levels. • Assumptions regarding the implementation of the Emergency Breaching Protocols have been retained, with the flood gates being opened at the 5% AEP event and rarer and breaching of the canal bank occurring at the 2% AEP event and rarer. • Design details of the recently constructed Thorne Road upgrade have been used to update road crest levels and cross-drainage infrastructure. • Details of the Shiraz Drive residential development were estimated from the 2014 LPI LiDAR data and recent Google aerial imagery and have been used to update the local TUFLOW model topography.

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

Flood Maps Update

1 in 20 year flood event

1 in 50 year flood event

1 in 100 year flood event

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

1 in 200 year flood event

Extreme Flood Event

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Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021

The Committee discussed the revised flood maps and modelled impact of the Yenda Flood Mitigation Works. In some cases flooding will still occur within localised pockets of areas within village and from water coming from the north (Myall Park) however flooding would not occur as a result of water coming from Mirrool Creek.

Discussion took place regarding issues raised in Mr Rossetto’s letter. If required, the Emergency Operations Centre can implement measures such as a temporary gravel bank to alleviate the area in question.

Ms Jones queried the changes to flood water depth presented in the revised maps. Mr Manwaring suggested that there is a difference in the legend colours which would account for the perceived inconsistency.

Mr Gordon advised that some properties around Dredge Street may still be prone to flooding in a 1 in 100 event. Council’s commitment was that Mirrool Creek would not impact on Yenda, this has been achieved. Pumps implemented have improved localised drainage issues. Stage 1 and 1A have been completed with pumps installed at Railway Street and North Avenue. The next stage would be to install a pump at Park Street and rising main to Dredge Street.

Alan Shea left the meeting at 11:34 am.

Ms Jones asked if it is possible to present figures in terms of megs per day.

Mr Stonestreet advised that as funds required for flood mitigation winds down it may be possible to fund drainage issues and other projects.

Mr Gordon stated that in a 1 in 200 flood event there would be significant inflow from Binya Hills area, channelizing down through the Railway Line which may result in water coming from the North into the village. The full impact of this was not calculated as part of this flood study which focused on a 1 in 100 event for the purpose of reduction of insurance premiums for the residents of Yenda.

Ms Jones stated that in the 2012 flood event residents were only given 1 hour to evacuate. Residents will have more notice with the flood mitigation measures implemented and can take steps to protect property.

Mr Gordon advised that following the public exhibition period it is anticipated the revised maps will be adopted by Council by April 2021.

Mr Stonestreet suggested presenting information from the Insurance Council at the community meeting to help residents understand what is required.

Ms Jones raised the issue of illegal levy banks, how these may impact the ability of water to drain away, action Council may be able to take as well as the management of the Barrenbox Storage and Wetlands.

Mayor Dal Broi advised this is a legal issue and costs would be incurred. Mr Gordon stated that through the Emergency Operations Centre it would be possible to look at breaching illegal levy structures depending on operational issues.

Mr Stonestreet advised that the issue of illegal levy banks is complex and Council would need to do another assessment of the catchment area. Funding could be applied for to revise the flood mapping which would cost approximately $250,000. New maps would show how the flow of water has changed however Council will have to determine how this issue is to be dealt with. Councillors will workshop this issue at a future date. Mr Gordon advised the Floodplain Management Committee | 04 March 2021 8

Minutes of Floodplain Management Committee 04 March 2021 illegal levy banks should not impact Yenda residents.

Mr Joe Dal Broi suggested that to move water down the Creek it is necessary to clear restrictions. Mr Gordon advised Murrumbidgee Irrigation maintain the Creek however there can be difficulties obtaining permits from Fisheries due to environmental concerns.

CL04 FLOOD EDUCATION

Mr Gordon advised Council and Murrumbidgee Irrigation had done a site inspection of the proposed location for educational information however accessibility is an issue.

Mr Gordon advised Council could create a virtual educational package on Council’s website or work with the Yenda community to erect a display in the town centre.

Ms Jones advised she would submit a proposal to the Committee that would look at areas of interest along the creek including trees, birds and such.

6 OUTSTANDING ACTION REPORT RECOMMENDED on the motion of Councillor Dino Zappacosta and Sally Jones that the report be noted.

7 GENERAL BUSINESS

7.1 Yenda Community Consultation

Councillor Zappacosta stated that residents will be wanting to know how their properties will be affected and the importance of presenting the information considering that some properties will still be affected.

The Mayor advised the purpose of the meeting is to inform the community of the 1 in 100 mapping that has been recently undertaken to assist residents in being able to have their insurance premiums reduced.

8 NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Floodplain Management Committee is to be held at a date to be notified.

There being no further business the meeting terminated at 12:19 pm.

Confirmed: ......

CHAIRPERSON

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