Federation Council adopted the study in November last year and has begun to assess building and development applications against a 1% AEP (one-in-one-hundred-year) flood event, requiring building levels to be 500mm above the 1% AEP.
For some, that means raising the floor level more than a metre with the additional cost running into six figures.
Mulwala Real Estate agent, Mark Seeliger said he knows of at least one sale that has fallen through because of the flood study.
“The buyer purchased the land and pulled out of the sale when they found out about the flood study,” Mr Seeliger said.
It’s a worrying sign; people don’t know what’s happening.
“There’s a whole lack of understanding and information out there.”
Mr Seeliger said it’s “wrong on so many levels” that the impact of the flood study was suppressed for so long.
“It’s another kick in the guts for young people and first home buyers,” he said.
“Not only is there an increase in rates, but now all the added costs of having to raise their house a metre off the ground.”
Mulwala builder, Jack Riches found out about the changes when a planning application, that took almost two years to approve, came back with a condition to raise the levels.
“I’ve been worried sick for the past few weeks,” Mr Riches said.
“It’s going to have huge implications for building costs in Mulwala if something isn’t done about it; and what are the insurance implications?
“My business has almost come to a stop; I’ve one job that would keep five of my workers busy until the end of the year and we haven’t been able to start it.
“That’s just my workers; there’s the plumbers, electricians, all the tradies. It will go right through the industry.
“I’m waiting to see what will happen, and the client is waiting to see if there’ll be any change before he makes up his mind.
“Another plan for a property on the Mulwala foreshore, we estimate will need to go up by 1.5 metres … that’s about another $100,000.
“I won’t be surprised if it doesn’t go ahead.”
Mr Riches was born and raised in Mulwala and said he’s never seen it flood in 62 years, even when there’s been major flooding in Corowa.
“I’m not a flood expert, but it doesn’t make sense,” he said.
With the industry in turmoil and potentially disastrous ramifications, the industry is calling for a public meeting with the Federation Council to explain the way forward and the accuracy of data used in the study.
WMA Water, which was contracted by Federation Council to complete the study, has been contacted to confirm whether flood height data was taken from before or after the weir’s construction in 1937.
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