A “comprehensive flood study” of Ballimore will be funded largely by $100,000 from the state government’s 2018/2019 Floodplain Management grants program.
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It will lead to the development of a floodplain risk-management study and plan for the village.
Dubbo Regional Council is the recipient of the funding announced by state Member for Dubbo Troy Grant this week.
Mr Grant said the grant would help the council better understand and manage flood levels, risk and exposure in the Ballimore district.
“I congratulate Dubbo Regional Council on successfully securing this money to support their plans for the first stage of this project, which will involve a comprehensive flood study for the village to current industry standards,” he said.
Mr Grant said the project was expected to incorporate data from a flood study conducted in 1996, along with information and anecdotal evidence from Ballimore residents and council staff.
It was envisaged the study would focus on the Talbragar River catchment as well as exploring the potential influence of local inflows, he said.
“It is intended that the flood study will also address local issues within the village,” Mr Grant said.
NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the government’s Floodplain Management grants program supported councils in assessing flood risk and reducing flood impacts on communities.
“The grants assist with flood studies and flood risk-management studies, as well as the implementation of works to reduce flood risk such as flood levees, flood gates, warning systems, house raising or purchase in high-risk areas,” she said.
In 2018/2019, 33 projects are receiving a total of $6.9 million from the Flood Management grants program.
Dubbo Regional Council will contribute $50,000 to the Ballimore flood study.
It reports of similar projects currently being carried out at the villages of Geurie and Eumungerie.
“It is important that all of our villages are catered for and floodplain management is crucial, especially for Ballimore, which is situated right on the banks of the Talbragar River,” mayor Ben Shields said.
“Council has already started comprehensive flood studies for Geurie and Eumungerie that will shape our management for those villages.
“Council will continue to look for funding opportunities for projects at the villages and across the entire Dubbo region.”
The Council will seek to engage a consultant to undertake the Ballimore flood study in early 2019.