What are the options to mitigate flooding in the Lower Macleay?

Published on 07 March 2024

The Lower Macleay is one step closer to a comprehensive Flood Study and Flood Risk Management Plan with the formation of the Flood Risk Management Reference Group and a community workshop to be held at Smithtown Hall on 15 March.

Kempsey Council has been working with consultants Jacobs Pty Ltd to investigate how to reduce the impacts of flooding on the Lower Macleay.

The Flood Study and Flood Risk Management Study are technical documents that support the next stage, which will be to seek community feedback on proposed flood mitigation options.

Jacobs have developed 15 options for community input, from which 10 can be investigated as part of this study; the Lower Macleay is a vast area and options that do not make the cut will be investigated in future works.

The options include:

1. Raising Crescent Head Road at the Corduroy
2. Raising Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon
3. Dredging of the Macleay River
4. Disconnecting Korogoro Creek and Killick Creek from the Floodplain
5. Reinstate Rowes Cut
6. New Ocean Outlets
7. Modification of the way Council operate the Flood Control Structures
8. Increase the Floodplain Drainage Capacity – (Floodgate and Drains)
9. Hat Head Road Floodway (Dairy)
10. Increased drainage capacity at Clybucca Floodplain
11. Increased Drainage Capacity – Ryans Cut (Loftus Road)
12. Increased Floodplain Drainage Capacity – Enlarge the Headworks on Belmore and Kinchela Creek
13. Raise and Extend Smithtown Levee
14. Raise other Levees to design levels and infill low sections
15. Removal of Clybucca Headworks.

The Flood Impacts Planning documents listed on the sidebar of this website include more detailed descriptions of the options.

Council will be holding a Community Workshop at Smithtown Hall from 10-1pm on 15^th March to talk through the options. 

There is also an opportunity to have your say via our Your Say Macleay Page here