Council’s assets have been assessed by a structural engineer to determine any structural damage and an occupational hygienist to understand moisture and mould impacts.
The results of the structural engineer's assessment demonstrate that the structures that have suffered the most significant structural damage are the fishing platform at Rowers Park and the retaining walls and boat ramps at Corowa Lagoon and Howlong Memorial Park.
Significant flood damage has also occurred at the following buildings and facilities:
Corowa Civic Centre including Corowa Civic Bowls Club; Ball Park Caravan Park; Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club; structures in Rowers Park, Corowa; and structures in Memorial Park, Howlong.
The results of the occupational hygienist assessment show that the following buildings have active mould growth, coliform contamination and unacceptable air ecology: Corowa Civic Centre - basement; Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Clubrooms; Ball Park Caravan Park - some habitable buildings.
Reporting to council’s latest monthly meeting, on April 24 in Urana, General Manager Adrian Butler advised council staff continue to work through the insurance claim process with council's insurer.
“Currently, council staff are working with local contractors and suppliers to quote repairs of flood damaged facilities,” he said.
“This body of work, including collating the information required for the insurance claim, will take a number of months complete.”
Mr Butler advised that council is now eligible for up to $1 million in funding to assist in recovery via NSW Office of Local Government $1 Million Disaster Grant – for works/services not covered via the major flood damage/public infrastructure grants, which are primarily aimed at council’s road network and related assets.
The $1 million grant application by council relates to: recovery management for the Corowa Foreshore and Civic Precinct area including employing additional local staff to help coordinate and plan the rebuilding effort; repair of inundated council and community facilities, ensuring they are flood proofed for the future, specifically, waste clean-up of assets and infrastructure including clean-up across the 11 communities impacted by flooding from September 2022 to February 2023.
“Further information will be provided if the in-principle grants are approved, to allow the detailed works program to be submitted,” Mr Butler said.
“If approved in principle, council has three months to submit a detailed works program for the final approval.”
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch asked if any work can be undertaken ahead of grant approval. Council’s director development and environmental services Susan Appleyard said until council receives the response from its insurer, “there’s not much we can do”.
Mr Butler added: “We hope to hear petty quickly from the government about our grant application which includes a project officer for the work.
“The next actions will be to commence the moisture and mould remediation process at each facility, including engaging a forensic cleaner and seeking a post remediation verification certificate to confirm for council's insurer that appropriate remediation actions have been taken.
“Once approved by council's insurer, staff will then need to organise repair works required including developing a scope of works for any repairs or rebuild and tender / quotation process for the works.”
It is still expected that some of council’s community assets and facilities will be impacted and/or out of use for up to 12 months or longer.
There are also a number of facilities damaged by the flood that are not covered under council's insurance policy and will need to be covered by either council's general funds and/or grant funding.
