Bathurst Flood Study Update

Council is primarily responsible for Flood Risk Management (FRM) within the Bathurst Regional Local Government Area under the NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy:

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/floodplains

Council is responsible for formulating and implementing Flood Risk Management Plans in accordance with this Policy.

The aim of Flood Risk Management is to manage the impact of flooding and flood liability on owners and occupiers of flood-prone property and reduce public and private losses resulting from flooding.

Bathurst Regional Council is committed to comprehensive Flood Risk Management. The last major study for the Macquarie Wambuul River in Bathurst was the 1995 Bathurst Floodplain Management Plan. An updated Flood Study will incorporate advancements in flood modelling techniques, updates to the flood risk management process and review Council’s existing flood mitigation infrastructure.

Council has received financial support under the NSW Floodplain Management Program to undertake a flood study for Bathurst. Council has engaged specialist consultants, Stantec, to prepare the Bathurst Flood Study Update, representing stage 1 of the Flood Risk Management process.

PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR STAGE 1 – BATHURST FLOOD STUDY UPDATE

BATHURST FLOOD STUDY UPDATE – STUDY AREA

The City of Bathurst is subject to mainstream flooding from the Macquarie Wambuul River and its tributaries.

The Bathurst Flood Study Update will consider:

• approximately 29 km of the Macquarie Wambuul River, from the confluence between Fish and Campbells Rivers to the boundary between the localities of Dunkeld and Rock Forest; and
• the local tributaries of Jordan Creek, Raglan Creek, Saltram Creek, Hawthornden Creek, Sawpit Creek and Queen Charlottes Vale Creek.

An indicative map of the Study area is provided in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Study Area for the Bathurst Flood Study Update

HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED IN STAGE 1?

To inform stage one, Council is seeking the views and experiences of the Bathurst community in relation to flooding and past storm events.

Council will be holding information sessions to inform the community about the Flood Risk Management process as follows:

Council invites the Bathurst Community, particularly those located in or close to the Study Area, to complete the Bathurst Flood Study Update Questionnaire (available below) to share your experiences and views about flooding and past storm events.

Hard copy questionnaire forms are also available from Council’s Engineering Department.

You are also encouraged to share photos or links to videos of past storm events in the Bathurst region. Photos and videos can be shared with Council through any of the following means:

• Upload photographs or links to videos via the online Questionnaire (available below). Up to five (5) individual photographs can be uploaded below OR you can combine photographs into one Microsoft Word document and upload the file below.
• Email photos and videos directly to Council. Please email to council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au with your relevant contact details and property information.
• Post hardcopies of the photographs to Council. Please enclose your relevant contact details and property information and post any hardcopies to: Private Mail Bag 17, Bathurst NSW 2795.
• Submit hardcopies of the photographs to Council in person. Please submit any hardcopies to Council's Engineering Services desk on the Second Floor of the Civic Centre (158 Russell Street Bathurst NSW 2795).
• Submit electronic copies of the photographs and videos to Council (using a USB stick or CD) in person. Please submit any electronic copies to Council's Engineering Services desk on the Second Floor of the Civic Centre (158 Russell Street Bathurst NSW 2795).
• Contact Council's Engineering Department for any further assistance on 6333 6100.

Completed questionnaires/shared imagery must be submitted by Friday 16 August 2024.

WHY IS YOUR INPUT IMPORTANT?

Council’s consultants will use the photo and video evidence and stories collected from this first stage of community engagement to test the updated flood model and verify its accuracy.

FIND OUT MORE

To find out more about this project and links to Council’s existing floodplain management plans and studies please see the Document Library. Importantly the Explanation Document provided outlines in detail the aims and objectives of the Bathurst Flood Study Update project.

REGISTER TO FOLLOW THIS PROJECT

There will be other opportunities for you to comment as the study progresses. To stay informed as this project progresses through the four stages outlined above, please register your email address.

We will keep you updated on YourSay Bathurst.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

The community are encouraged to contact Council’s Engineering Department on 6333 6589 or email council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au should you have any concerns or would like further detailed information.

RSVPs are essential to attend the information sessions and should be made to Council’s Engineering Department on 6333 6100 or email
Sue.Miller@bathurst.nsw.gov.au by 3:00pm on Thursday 25 July 2024.

RESIDENT/LANDOWNER SURVEY 2024

(Available for completion below)

This survey will help us to determine the flooding issues that are important to you within the Study area. The information you provide will helps us:

• better understand the flooding problem in the local tributaries
• inform planning and development decisions in areas affected by flooding
• prepare for an informed Flood Risk Management Plan in the future

This survey has been provided using an indicative area near current flood extent, and receiving this survey does not carry implication that your property is, or will be, flood impacted.

Please note that you can complete this survey below.