Flood study to be updated

The councils were about to seek community feedback on the draft study when the 2022 flood occurred.

Campaspe Shire Council Mayor Rob Amos said both councils agreed to defer community consultation on the draft study to enable data from the 2022 flood event to inform the flood model.

“The October 2022 flood impacted vast areas of both shires and was the largest event in more than 150 years,” Cr Amos said.

“The good news is that data from the 2022 flood can now be used to recalibrate modelling in the existing flood study which was based on data from the 1993 flood event, the last time that the Murray, Campaspe and Goulburn rivers’ flooding coincided.

“This will enable potential future flood mitigation measures, warning systems and triggers to be developed based on the latest information.”

Murray River Council Mayor Chris Bilkey said recalibration of the flood study would start in late February, with community input a key part of the process.

“Firstly, the expert consultants will review additional information collected from the 2022 event,” Cr Bilkey said.

“They’ll also seek community input on potential mitigation works and suggestions to improve the emergency flood management plans and responses to be developed in the next stage of the study.”

The flood model is complicated and the recalibration process is time-consuming, taking about one week for the computers to perform a single run.

Recalibration typically requires many model runs, with associated adjustments between each, and periodic consultation with the flood study’s community reference committee.

It is anticipated that the revised draft Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study will be completed and placed on public exhibition in late 2023.

The next stage of the study will begin later this year.