Council accepts flood study finding for two towns

By Djembe Archibald

Jul 25, 2024

A Tallygaroopna farm during the 2012 floods.

Flood scoping study final reports for Tallygaroopna and Katandra West have both been noted and accepted by all councillors as of the Greater Shepparton City Council July meeting.

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But what practical changes can residents expect to see?

From the two reports for the towns, more than 10 recommendations have been made that council can now implement.

For Tallygaroopna, the flood scoping study final report gave council the following recommendations:

Include a ‘Land Subject to Inundation Overlay’ in the planning scheme to reflect the findings of the report.
Impose minimum floor level controls to development in Tallygaroopna.
Update the GSCC Municipal Flood Management Plan to reflect the finding of the study.
Update council’s Emergency Plan to reflect the findings of the study.
Work with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority to formalise a trigger height for the control of inlet gates on Congupna Creek using a newly installed creek flood height gauge.
Undertake a flood study followed by a floodplain risk management study utilising hydraulic modelling in the longer term.

For Katandra West, the report had several key recommendations:

Update the GSCC Municipal Flood Management Plan to reflect the finding of the study.
Update council’s Emergency Plan to reflect the findings of the study.
This includes undertaking a planning scheme amendment to include a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay within the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme to reflect the findings of the report.

The flood scoping study for Tallygaroopna in 2023 was funded by a grant received by council.

City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said the flood studies were “vitally important”.

“We were able to get access to this funding that we put to good use and undertook a study in not only Tallygaroopna but Katandra West,” Cr Sali said.

“What was highlighted last night (at the July council meeting) was the amazing work that locals have done over the many, many years in basically keeping track of where certain flood levels were to showcase all of that information, which was used to help formulate the study.”

Cr Dinny Adem commended the study, saying it had allowed council to be more knowledgeable about the towns.

“It’s given us invaluable information for future works in respect to future flood studies but it’s really giving us a great understanding of what the risks are,” he said.

Cr Anthony Brophy mirrored Cr Adem’s thoughts, saying in-depth understanding would result in higher quality outcomes for the community.

“This is fantastic and it’s very good to see pinpointed each particular property in the flood levels,” Cr Brophy said.

Cr Ben Ladson commended the efforts of the community before and during the study taking place.

“I want to thank the people of Tallygaroopna who, during difficult times, have marked the water level and recorded it, which has been used for the scoping study,” he said.

To check out the full reports, head to the council website.