Corangamite Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2017–2027 Produced by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority in collaboration with regional partners Acknowledgements The Corangamite Regional Floodplain Management Strategy Senior Steering Committee acknowledges the contribution of partner agencies and the community who provided valuable input into the Strategy’s development. This includes the Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Corangamite Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Moorabool Shire, Moyne Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Corangamite CMA and the VICSES. The Committee also acknowledges assistance of the DELWP Floodplain Management Team and other catchment management authorities. The stakeholders involved in this Strategy proudly acknowledge the region’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to the Corangamite region and how this enriches us all. We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards the equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice. Funding support for the development of the Regional Floodplain Management Strategy has been provided by the Victorian Government. GIS support and maps produced by A.S. Miner Geotechnical. Cover photograph: Gellibrand River May 2015 Corangamite Regional Floodplain Management Strategy 2017-2027 © Corangamite Catchment Management Authority 2017 Published by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Colac, Victoria, Australia This publication is funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you, but the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, its employees and other contributors do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaim all liability from error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: Introduction and regional context ........................................................................ 7 1.1 Purpose and scope ..................................................................................................................................................................................................7 1.2 The Corangamite region........................................................................................................................................................................................8 1.3 The policy context .................................................................................................................................................................................................11 1.4 Environmental values of floodplains ..............................................................................................................................................................12 1.5 Aboriginal values and floodplains ...................................................................................................................................................................14 1.6 Climate change and the Corangamite region ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 15 1.7 Roles and responsibilities....................................................................................................................................................................................16 Chapter 2: Flooding in the Corangamite region .................................................................. 19 2.1 Regional risk assessment.....................................................................................................................................................................................19 2.2 Understanding existing mitigation measures .............................................................................................................................................21 2.3 Regional and community infrastructure .......................................................................................................................................................29 2.4 Stormwater ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................29 2.5 Rural drainage ........................................................................................................................................................................................................29 2.6 Dams ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 2.7 Urban development in the region ...................................................................................................................................................................30 Chapter 3: The Strategy ......................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Vision and objectives ............................................................................................................................................................................................31 3.2 Determining regional priorities and actions ...............................................................................................................................................35 Chapter 4: Flood risk and responses in the Corangamite region ..................................... 39 4.1 Borough of Queenscliffe ......................................................................................................................................................................................42 4.2 City of Ballarat .........................................................................................................................................................................................................44 4.3 City of Greater Geelong .......................................................................................................................................................................................48 4.4 Colac Otway Shire ..................................................................................................................................................................................................52 4.5 Corangamite Shire .................................................................................................................................................................................................56 4.6 Golden Plains Shire ................................................................................................................................................................................................60 4.7 Moorabool Shire .....................................................................................................................................................................................................64 4.8 Moyne Shire .............................................................................................................................................................................................................66 4.9 Surf Coast Shire .......................................................................................................................................................................................................68 4.10 Other stakeholders ................................................................................................................................................................................................72 Chapter 5: Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Plan ............................. 79 5.1 Delivering the strategy ........................................................................................................................................................................................79 5.2 Plan for monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement .............................................................................................................79 5.3 Governance and accountability ........................................................................................................................................................................81 Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 83 Appendix 1 – Major past floods ....................................................................................................................................................................................84 Appendix 2 – Examples of flooding in the region .................................................................................................................................................86