Funding for flood management in the Kempsey Shire

Published on 14 February 2022

Sherwood Bridge in flood

The Kempsey Shire will be better prepared for future flood events thanks to funding that will help manage flood risk and improve flood warning infrastructure along the Macleay River.

Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey, announced on Friday that Kempsey Shire Council has received $62,666 of funding for local floodplain management.

Kempsey Shire Council Mayor, Leo Hauville, said the grant will help Council manage flood risk and other government agencies to track and predict flood behaviour, enabling our residents to be better informed in times of emergency.

"Council will be expanding some of its flood infrastructure including the network of gauges that are vital in reporting river levels in times of heavy rainfall. These improvements are identified priority actions from the Kempsey CBD Flood Risk Management Plan, however benefit much of the shire" said Mr Hauville.

"A full network of gauges is just one part of our flood management plan, which also includes live camera feeds of the Kempsey Traffic Bridge and Sherwood Bridge. We also have a thorough communications plan in place so when events do occur, the community is kept up to date with the latest information."

Ms Pavey said the grants, awarded under the 2021-22 Floodplain Management Program, will help each council better understand and manage local flood risk and exposure in their local government area.

"Each year councils can apply for grants through the NSW Government's Floodplain Management Program to fund important projects which assess and understand flood risk and help reduce flood impacts on their local communities," Ms Pavey said.

"This is a continuation of the NSW Government's investment to support councils in managing flood risk in our communities."

Ms Pavey said Kempsey Shire Council secured $62,666 to provide a more robust and improved flood warning network for the Macleay River.

Project specifics include:

  • Review and installation of additional gauges in the middle of the catchment
  • Correlation of existing Kempsey and Smithtown gauges
  • Clarification of active gauges and incorporation into the ENVIRONMON system
  • An improved ENVIRONMON system with enhanced capabilities

"The expected outcome is for a functional network of gauges to provide consistent and current information, which will then allow for better flood mitigation management," Ms Pavey said.

The NSW Government funded 49 projects under the 2021-22 Floodplain Management grants program, which total $9.54 million. This is in addition to the 208 ongoing projects valued at $49.64 million being implemented from previous years funding rounds.

Each application is assessed by a DPIE technical specialist and then by the independent State Floodplain Mitigation Assessment Committee (SFMAC) for feasibility and overall worthiness using assessment criteria.

See further information online: Floodplain Management Grants

*FILE PHOTO - FROM 2021 MARCH FLOODS

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