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Southern
Floodplain Risk Management Committee – Wednesday 22 November 2023
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SFM23.4 Election
of Chairperson
HPERM Ref: D23/419432
Department: Business
Assurance & Risk
Approver: Kerrie
Hamilton, Director City Performance
Reason for Report
To allow for the election of a
Southern Floodplain Risk Management Committee Chairperson.
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Recommendation (Item to
be determined under delegated authority)
That the Southern Floodplain
Risk Management Committee recommend to Council that [insert name of
Councillor] be elected as Chairperson for the period to September 2024.
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Options
1. Adopt the recommendation.
Implications: Position of Chairperson will be
filled and the Committee will continue business as usual.
2. Adopt an alternate recommendation.
Implications: Should the committee opt not to elect
a Chairperson for the Term and opt to elect an interim Chairperson the
Committee may wish to review the Terms of Reference and the length of the Term
of the Chairperson.
Background
Council at its meeting on Monday
25 September 2023 resolved to continue the Southern Floodplain Risk Management
Committee. At this time Council was required to elect a chairperson, however
this was overlooked.
As per the Terms
of Reference the Committee will be Chaired by a Councillor.
Outlined
below is the process that is followed for the Election of Office Bearers for
Committees of the Council:
At the
time on the agenda when the election of office bearers is listed, the following
process will be followed:
(1) The
chairperson to step down from the chair (unless their position is not up for
election). An appropriate Senior Officer of the Council or other official
should assume the chair for the nomination process.
(2) Individually,
for each position the following is to take place:
a. Nominations
are called for that position and are acknowledged by the chair
i. They
may be received in writing prior to the meeting or provided verbally at the
meeting
ii. The
Officer conducting the election shall confirm acceptance of each nominee prior
to his or her inclusion in the ballot.
b.
If only one nomination is received, that person is declared as elected
c. If
more than one nomination is received, the Committee will be asked to resolve
whether the election is to take place by open voting (i.e. show of hands) or
ordinary ballot (i.e. written votes recorded and provided in secret).
d. Where
a large number of nominations are received, the Committee may elect to proceed
by a preferential ballot, whereby ballots are consecutively taken and the
nominee with the least number of votes is excluded from running after each
ballot, until there are two preferred candidates remaining and a final ballot
is undertaken and declared.
e. The
nominee with the most ballots is declared as elected.
f. In
the event of an equal number of ballots being cast for nominees, the position
shall be determined by draw. The name drawn by the interim chairperson will be
appointed to the position.
At the
conclusion of the elections, the newly elected Chairperson shall reassume
control of the meeting and proceed with other business.
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Southern
Floodplain Risk Management Committee – Wednesday 22 November 2023
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1
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SFM23.5 General
Update on Flood Projects
HPERM Ref: D23/429501
Department: Environmental
Services
Approver: James
Ruprai, Director - City Development
Reason for Report
To provide
the Southern Floodplain Risk Management Committee (FRMC) with an update on
various flood related projects in the Southern FRMC region.
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated
authority)
The Committee receive the General Update on Flood
Projects report for information.
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Options
1. The
Committee receive the General Update on Flood Projects report for information.
Implications: Nil.
2. The
Committee could choose to provide an alternative recommendation for
consideration by Council.
Implications: Unknown.
Background
Intermittently Closed and
Open Lake and Lagoon (ICOLL) Catchments Flash Flood Warning System Scoping
Study
Council has engaged a
consultant, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL), to assist with the delivery of
this study.
The primary objectives of this
study are to scope the requirements and determine feasible options for the
implementation of a fit-for-purpose location-based flash flood warning system
for the catchments of Lake Conjola, Burrill Lake and Tabourie Lake to proactively
improve flood warning and evacuation capabilities within the townships of these
areas.
Council has established a Get
Involved webpage for this project:
https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/icoll
Initial community consultation was undertaken in May
– June 2023 including a questionnaire. The questionnaire covered topics
of flood risk perception, flood preparedness, preferred flood information
sources, and preferred mechanisms for flood warning messaging.
Following the completion of initial consultation, a draft
Shoalhaven Flash Flood Warning System Options report has been prepared. The
report outlines recommendations for a flash flood warning system that would
predict lake levels in a flood event, provide early warning, and assist with
flood response and pre-flood entrance management procedures for these lakes.
Council is currently undertaking further community
consultation from Monday 30 October to Sunday 26 November 2023 to obtain
community feedback on the draft recommendations for a flash flood warning
system. This will be used to complete the scoping study. This community
consultation includes a short online community questionnaire.
As part
of the targeted community consultation, corflute signs have been placed in key
locations to inform the community of the ongoing consultation. Further, the
consultation period has been advertised via the Community Information Hubs,
relevant updates provided on the project’s Get Involved web page, and a
media release was released. It is noted that no letters were sent to landowners
as part of the consultation as this was undertaken at the commencement of the
study.
Two drop-in sessions have been completed as follows:
§ Burrill Lake Community Hall - 3pm to 6.30pm, Tuesday 14 November
§ Lake Conjola Community Centre - 3pm to 6.30pm, Wednesday 15 November
These
were attended by Council staff, NSW Department of Planning and Environment
(DPE) Flood Risk Specialist, local NSW State Emergency Service (SES)
volunteers, and the consultants, MHL, working on this project.
MHL has provided a presentation
to the FRMC that discusses this project and tasks completed to date. Council
would appreciate any local knowledge and comments from the FRMC to assist with
the completion of this investigation.
Willinga Lake Flood Study and
Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan
Advisian has been engaged by
Council to prepare the Willinga Lake Flood Study and Floodplain Risk Management
Study & Plan, as well as other local catchments along Bawley Point Road and
Murramarang Road.
The objectives of this study are
to improve understanding of flood behaviour and impacts, and better inform
management of flood risk in the study area in consideration of the available
information, and relevant standards and guidelines. It aims to provide an
understanding of flood behaviour and consequences by considering local flood
history, available flood data, and through the development of hydrologic and
hydraulic models to replicate the catchment’s response to rainfall. The
outputs from this project will provide critical information to the NSW SES to
assist them in managing the risk of properties becoming isolated for a
significant period during flood events. The outputs will also provide Council
with a Plan of Management of the flood risk within the floodplain, which may
include infrastructure upgrades, development controls, and emergency management
recommendations.
Whilst there are unlikely to be a
significant number of properties directly impacted on by flooding, the Bawley
Point and Kioloa villages include properties which could become isolated due to
inundation of a low-lying section of Bawley Point Road from Willinga Lake. The
study will undertake flood modelling to assist with the investigation of a
potential future road raising of Bawley Point Road in the location in which it
is vulnerable to inundation.
Council has established a Get
Involved Page for this project and initial community consultation (including an
online survey) was undertaken from Monday 31 July to Friday 25 August 2023. The
objectives of this initial community consultation were to inform the community
of the commencement of this study, seek information from the community on
historic flood events to assist in the development and calibration of flood
models, and seek input from the community on potential mitigation measures to
be investigated as part of the Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan.
https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/willinga-lake-flood-study
A letter was sent to property
owners in the Willinga Lake catchment, nearby Community Consultative Bodies
(CCBs) were notified, posts were disseminated via the Community Information
Hubs and corflute signs were installed at key locations in the catchment.
A drop-in session was held on
Wednesday 16 August 2023 at the Bawley Point Rural Fire Service (RFS) from 3pm
to 7pm. This drop-in session was attended by Council staff, local NSW SES
volunteers, DPE flood specialist and the consultants from Advisian.
This project is now in the model
development and calibration stage for the Willinga Lake Flood Study.
Public exhibition and community
consultation will be undertaken for the draft Willinga Lake Flood Study and
draft Willinga Lake Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan when this has
been completed. The outcome from these draft investigations will be presented
to the FRMC for endorsement before the commencement of public exhibition and
community consultation.
Advisian has provided a
presentation to the FRMC that discusses this project and tasks completed to
date. Council would appreciate any local knowledge and comments from the FRMC
to assist with the completion of this investigation.
Clyde River Flood Study and
Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan
Rhelm has been engaged by
Council to prepare the Clyde River Flood Study and Floodplain Risk Management
Study & Plan.
The objectives of this study are
to improve understanding of flood behaviour and impacts, and better inform
management of flood risk in the study area in consideration of the available
information, and relevant standards and guidelines. It aims to provide an
understanding of flood behaviour and consequences by considering local flood
history, available flood data, and through the development of hydrologic and
hydraulic models to replicate the catchment’s response to rainfall. The
outputs from this project will provide critical information to the NSW SES to
assist them in managing the risk of properties becoming isolated for a
significant period during flood events. The outputs will also provide Council
with a Plan of management of the flood risk within the floodplain, which may
include infrastructure upgrades, development controls, and emergency management
recommendations. Whilst there are unlikely to be a significant number of
properties directly impacted on by flooding, the catchment includes properties
which can become isolated due to inundation of existing low-level waterway
crossings.
Council has established a Get
Involved Page for this project and initial community consultation (including an
online survey) was undertaken from Monday 24 July to Friday 18 August 2023. The
objectives of this initial community consultation were to inform the community
of the commencement of this study, seek information from the community on
historic flood events to assist in the development and calibration of flood
models, and seek input from the community on potential mitigation measures to
be investigated as part of the Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan.
https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/clyde-river-flood-study
A letter was sent to all
property owners in the Clyde River catchment, nearby CCBs notified, posts
disseminated via the Community Information Hubs and corflute signs were
installed at key locations in the catchment.
A drop-in session was held on
Tuesday 8 August 2023 at the Ulladulla Civic Centre from 3pm to 7pm. This
drop-in session was attended by Council staff, local NSW SES volunteers, DPE
flood specialist and the consultants from Rhelm.
This project is now in the model
development and calibration stage for the Clyde River Flood Study.
Public exhibition and community
consultation will be undertaken for the draft Clyde River Flood Study and draft
Clyde River Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan when this has been
completed. The outcome from these draft investigations will be presented to the
FRMC for endorsement before the commencement of public exhibition and community
consultation.
Rhelm has provided a
presentation to the FRMC that discusses this project and tasks completed to
date. Council would appreciate any local knowledge and comments from the FRMC
to assist with the completion of this investigation.
Shoalhaven LGA Floor Level
Survey for Flood Planning
Council has received grant
funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority through the Disaster Risk
Reduction Fund (DRRF) to undertake this project. The DRRF is jointly funded by
the Australian and New South Wales governments.
The purpose of this project is to undertake a floor
level survey of existing dwellings located on flood prone land within the
Shoalhaven LGA to assist in reducing existing and future flood risk to the
Shoalhaven community. Properties to be surveyed have been identified from flood
mapping that were identified from Council’s previously adopted flood
investigations.
This project will include floor level survey in the Lake
Conjola, Millards Creek, Burrill Lake, Tabourie Lake, Willinga Lake and Clyde
River catchments within the Southern FRMC area.
The outputs of the study, the surveyed floor levels,
will be shared with the NSW SES to incorporate this information into their
flood event emergency response procedures. Council will utilise the floor level
data to assess the suitability of potential flood mitigation measures as
investigated via a Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, and to review and
update other Council policies such as Entrance Management Plans.
Council has created a project webpage and issued a media
release prior to the project commencing.
https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Projects-Engagement/Major-Projects-Works/Shoalhaven-LGA-Floor-Level-Survey-for-Flood-Planning
Letters are being sent to all landowners for which
property access is required to undertake this dwelling floor level survey. In
summary:
§ Survey
will be undertaken outside of dwellings.
§ Survey
will take approximately five (5) minutes per property.
§ Any
access points will be maintained as they are found (no disturbance to
residents, pets or livestock).
As of late October 2023, floor
level surveys were nearing completion for all areas within the Lower Shoalhaven
River floodplain. This will be followed by the St Georges Basin floodplain in
early 2024 and then all remaining areas prior to the project completion in May
2024.
New Rain and Water Level
Gauges
Council has installed a new water level and rain gauge at Willinga Lake and this is
available via the Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau) website.
Rainfall: South Coast Rainfall and River Conditions
Water Level: Latest River Heights - South Coast (NSW)
These new gauges are included in
Council’s Environmon Flood Alert Network, which will allow alerts to be
sent to Council and NSW SES staff based on predetermined trigger levels.
Council has recently installed a
new rain gauge in the Tabourie Lake headwaters and the process of adding this
gauge to Environmon with assistance from the Bureau of Meteorology is underway.
This gauge will provide increased flood intelligence to Council and the NSW SES
with regard to entrance management and flood event response and form part of a
future flash flood warning system for the Tabourie Lake catchment.
Council has recently obtained
approval from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to install a
new rain gauge in Morton National Park in the Lake Conjola catchment
headwaters. Permits are being sought prior to the installation of this gauge.
This gauge will provide increased flood intelligence to Council and the NSW SES
with regard to entrance management and flood event response and form part of a
future flash flood warning system for the Lake Conjola catchment.
EOI for Vacant Community
Representatives on Committee
It is noted that there are
currently three (3) vacancies on the Southern FRMC, one (1) youth
representative and two (2) community representatives. As a result, Council has
issued an expression of interest (EOI) to fill these vacancies.
As per the Terms of Reference,
memberships for Local Representatives on the committee consists of:
“…five (5) local
community representatives, one (1) youth representative between ages 16 and 30,
and one (1) indigenous representative, which meet the following criteria:
§ A
broad interest, knowledge and understanding of floodplain management and the
areas within the committee’s jurisdiction.
§ A
commitment to floodplain management in the nominated Council area; and
§ Local
resident or business person living or working in or near a flood prone
area.”
More information can be found in
the Committee’s Terms of Reference, available on Council’s website.
Terms of Reference Northern / Central / Southern
Floodplain Risk Management Committees
At the end of a two-month EOI
period, one application has been received for a community representative for
the Southern FRMC from Ms Carol Saad. Council has reviewed this application and
formally endorsed Carol Saad as a community representative of the Southern FRMC
(MIN23.659).
It is expected that the EOI will
remain open until the remaining FRMC vacancies have been filled.
Induction Program for Local
Representatives
During the Northern FRMC meeting
held on 7 December 2022, it was requested that Council staff investigate the
implementation of an induction program for local representatives on the
committee. A resolution was later made during the Council meeting on 23 January
2023 for Council staff to pursue this request (MIN23.15).
Floodplain Risk Management (FRM)
is a highly technical field consisting of a range of professional disciplines
such as Floodplain Engineering, Hydraulics, Land Use Planning, Civil
Engineering and Emergency Management. It can be, understandably so, challenging
for community representatives to review comprehensive technical reports, such
as a flood study, to provide feedback to the committee on these reports and to
convey the content of the reports to the community.
To improve the effectiveness of
the FMRCs and to assist community representatives with their work on the
committee, Council’s Floodplain Management Unit has worked on an
Induction Program. However, considering the ongoing EOI to fill current FRMC vacancies,
the Induction Program will be offered once these vacancies have been filled.
