Minutes of the Northern
Floodplain Risk Management Committee
Meeting Date: Monday, 21 March
2022
Location: Council
Chambers, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 4:07pm
The following members were present:
Clr Patricia White - Chairperson
Clr Serena Copley (remotely) – left meeting at 6:06pm
Clr Evan Christen
Mr John Gould – Shoalhaven Riverwatch
Mr David Brawn
Mr Mark Kielly
Mr Phil Guy
Mr Michael Roberts - Manager - Environmental Services
Mr Adam Carney – (remotely) – joined at 4:25pm
Others Present:
Mr James Ruprai – Director City Development
Mr Michael Roberts - Manager -
Environmental Services
Mr Mark Stone – Senior Floodplain Engineer
Mr Alexander Aronsson – Floodplain & Stormwater
Quality Engineer
Mr David Whyte – Cardno (remotely)
Mr Robin Byrne - SES Nowra Unit Flood control (remotely)
Mr Nathan Pomfret – Department of Planning and
Environment (remotely)
Apologies were received from Len White and Clr Wells.
|
NFM22.5 Election
of Chairperson
|
|
RESOLVED (John Gould / Phil Guy)
Michael Roberts - Manager -
Environmental Services assumed the Chair and asked the members present if
there were any nominations for the role of Chairperson.
Clr Patricia White was
nominated by John Gould for the position of Chairperson, seconded by Phil
Guy. There were no additional nominations received.
The Committee agreed the
election process was conducted fairly and reasonably. Michael Roberts -
Manager - Environmental Services - declared Clr Patricia White as
Chairperson.
Clr White resumed the Chair.
CARRIED
|
|
Confirmation of the
Minutes
|
|
Mark Stone - Senior Floodplain
Engineer – advised that there was an error in the Agenda which showed
the minutes of the last meeting being held on 19 May 2021. However, the last
meeting was held on 25 November 2020. This was noted and the Minutes of
the meeting of 25 November 2020 were confirmed.
|
|
RESOLVED (Clr White / John Gould)
That the
Minutes of the Northern Floodplain Risk Management Committee held on 25
November 2020 be confirmed.
CARRIED
|
Nil.
Presentations
|
NFM22.3 Presentation - Purpose of the FRMC and
NSW Government Flood Program – Department of Planning and Environment.
|
HPERM Ref: D22/107705
|
|
Mark Stone - Senior Floodplain Engineer –
advised that this presentation has previously been presented to the FRMC by
John Murtagh - Senior Natural
Resource Officer, Environment,
Energy & Science, Department of Planning and Environment.
Nathan Pomfret - Environmental,
Energy & Science - Department of Planning and Environment - made a
presentation to the meeting for the benefit of new members on the Committee.
·
Council has 13
adopted Flood Studies and 12 adopted Floodplain Risk Management (FRM) Plans
which identify risk and management options across the Shoalhaven. The plans
are being progressively implemented across the Shoalhaven in a prioritised
manner.
·
Council has
continued to prepare flood studies for unmapped catchments and to review
adopted Plans in a prioritised order such as the current review of the Lower
Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.
·
Current Works and
Studies that are being undertaken are:
o
Maintenance of Lower
Shoalhaven River Flood Mitigation Scheme – Annual NSW Government grant
to assist with the costs in maintaining existing flood mitigation assets
o
Lower Shoalhaven
River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan Review
o
St Georges Basin Floodplain
Risk Management Study and Plan Review – this will be discussed at the
Central Floodplain Risk Management meeting to be held on 30 March 2022.
·
The NSW Floodplain
Development Manual (2005) is currently under review and on public exhibition
until 4 April 2022. The reviewed name is the NSW Flood Risk Management
Manual.
·
Flood Prone Land
Policy – primary objective is to reduce the impact of flooding and
flood liability on individual owners and occupiers of flood prone property,
and to reduce private and public losses from floods utilising ecologically
positive methods, where possible.
The presentation will be forwarded
with these minutes to members of the Committee.
|
Note: Mayor Amanda Findley joined the meeting remotely at
4:45pm.
|
NFM22.4 Presentation - Lower Shoalhaven River
Flood Study – Cardno
|
HPERM Ref: D22/107712
|
|
David Whyte – Cardno – made a
presentation to the meeting. The topics covered in the presentation were:
1.
Background on the Flood Study process and Study Objectives
2.
Model Development – hydrological and hydraulic models
3.
Design Event Modelling
4.
Results and Impacts of Flooding
5.
Next Steps – public exhibition and community consultation,
complete the Final Flood Study based on feedback, complete the Floodplain
Risk Management Study and Plan including assessment of available flood
mitigation options
The presentation will
be forwarded with these minutes to members of the Committee.
|
Note: Clr Copley left the meeting at 6:06pm.
Reports
|
NFM22.1 Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk
Management Study and Plan Update
|
HPERM Ref: D22/87287
|
|
Mark Stone - Senior Floodplain
Engineer - provided an update on the Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk
Management Study and Plan:
·
The Draft Lower Shoalhaven River Flood Study Report has been
completed. A Summary Report has also been prepared to assist with community
engagement.
·
Independent expert peer review of the study has been completed
and comments implemented.
·
Feedback has been provided by Council, Department of Planning
and Environment, and SES.
·
Next step is to put the Draft Lower Shoalhaven River Flood
Study Report on public exhibition and community consultation to seek input on
the report and suggestions for flood mitigation measures to be considered in
the FRMS&P.
·
Council has received an extension to the DPE funding term
completion date to 21 November 2022.
Discussion took place in relation to the various methods to be
considered for community engagement phase:
·
Clr White suggested that a webinar option be considered as part
of the community consultation process.
·
Phil Guy recommended that Council utilise the existing CCB
network for the presentation and hold a Q&A session.
·
The community engagement phase is suggested to be held for a
four week period, which was planned for the end of April but will likely be
moved to mid to late-May to ensure any necessary changes are made to the
report prior to public exhibition and community consultation and to prepare required
community consultation material.
·
David Whyte – Cardno – will prepare a video
recording of the presentation which will be available on the “Get
Involved” page.
Action: Mark Stone - Senior
Floodplain Engineer - to send out the adopted methods and planning for the
community consultation process to FRMC members prior to any public exhibition
or community involvement.
|
|
Recommendation
The
Committee receive the draft Lower Shoalhaven River Flood Study report for
information and endorse the commencement of public exhibition and community
engagement for the Draft Flood Study.
|
|
RECOMMENDATION (Phil Guy / John Gould)
The Committee
receive the draft Lower Shoalhaven River Flood Study report for information
and endorse the commencement of public exhibition and community engagement
for the Draft Flood Study.
CARRIED
|
|
NFM22.2 General Update on Flood Projects
|
HPERM Ref: D22/87503
|
|
The report
provided an update on Council’s grant funding and the current status of
the flood projects.
Clr White advised that most
importantly that Council will be conducting a visual audit of all flood
mitigation drains and levies during April 2022.
|
|
Recommendation (Item to
be determined under delegated authority)
The
Committee receive the General Update on Flood Projects report for
information.
|
|
RESOLVED (Clr White / John Gould)
The Committee receive the
General Update on Flood Projects report for information.
CARRIED
|
There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the
time being 6:38pm.
Clr Patricia
White
CHAIRPERSON