The latest step in a long-term process aimed at preventing potential flood damage in Orange is up for discussion.
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Orange City Council is putting its draft Flood Risk Management Study and Plan on exhibition for community comment.
The plan outlines a range of solutions to prevent flooding and avoid damage to property, including building earthworks such as levee banks or detention basins, which would slow the movement of floodwaters; and changes to planning measures such as Development Control Plans, which would restrict construction in flood-prone areas, or affect the kind of building that could be built.
Mayor Reg Kidd has urged the community to have a say on any changes before they are locked in.
"The NSW government wants all councils to look at the local risk of flooding and set out some clear strategies to prevent potential damage," Cr Kidd said.
"The earlier steps in this process where we outlined the scientific findings saw the council host community meetings in 2019 where local residents could look at maps of flood-prone areas and find out if their property could be affected.
"That was the science ... [which] showed the scale of the problems.
"This next stage looks at the solutions."
Council will consider a priority list of sites requiring flood mitigation work.
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"It won't be possible to build any new critical infrastructure in a flood zone, so the council wants to know these locations," said Cr Kidd.
"Potential changes to the Development Control Plan might affect what kind of extension someone can build in their backyard, so they'll want to know and have their say."
The flood study found that in the event of a one in 100-year flood event, "129 dwellings that are located in the Blackmans Swamp Creek catchment would experience above-floor inundation, as would 66 commercial/industrial buildings and nine public buildings.
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At the same level of flooding, a total of 49 dwellings in the adjacent Ploughmans Creek catchment would experience above-floor inundation, as would one commercial/industrial building and one public building.
Plans to investigate an early warning system that would alert residents in the event of a major flood are also proposed in the plan.
More information at yoursay.orange.nsw.gov.au/flood-risk-management-plan
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