Council resolved to place a draft Yass Flood Study & Plan on public exhibition at last month’s meeting. Community education about the plan is also expected to include a newsletter to all homes. 
The draft report identifies priority flood management measures, which are estimated to cost approximately $7M (currently unfunded).
Investigation and design of an integrated flood warning system are identified as priority measures for Yass Valley. This may include the installation of a network of pluviographic rain gauges/telemetered stream gauges.
The study identifies 12 properties at possible risk during a serious flooding event as candidates in future rezoning plans or future NSW Government’s voluntary purchase or house raising schemes. Homes built after 1986 are ineligible under the schemes.
A Vegetation Management Plan for Chinaman’s Creek is also proposed.
This would require removing dense vegetation from the bank area, significantly reducing the frequency of nuisance flooding and blockage risk of hydraulic structures.
Improvements to planning and development controls for future development in flood-prone areas is suggested to include a graded set of planning controls for future development that recognises the location of the development within the floodplain and applied consistently across the whole of the LGA.
The study and plan were commissioned to add missing information, reflect changes in the Australian Rainfall & Runoff Manual and the potential impact of climate change. It was prepared under the guidance of a Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Council, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment, the NSW State Emergency Service, and community representatives. The project’s general community input was obtained via a hardcopy community newsletter (distributed to all residents in Yass township) and a questionnaire (hardcopy or online).
Other suggestions in the draft plan include working with the SES to update the Yass Valley Local Flood Plan and increasing public awareness of the risks of flooding in the community. This may consist of Council working with the SES to prepare a Flood Information brochure.
Flood studies conducted on the villages of Murrumbateman, Bowning, Bookham, Binalong, Gundaroo and Sutton by flood risk management business Lyall & Associates are also likely to be released for public exhibition post the Council meeting tonight.
The flood studies were conducted to ensure an up to date set of flood-related planning controls can be applied to future development in Yass Valley.
The report found that the flood range along the main arms of the watercourses which travel through the six villages is relatively narrow for storm events, very much unlike the flooding of the Yass River in Yass.
It divides areas in the villages into four categories; category one- unsuitable for most types of development, category two- requires careful consideration before development, category three- more suitable for new development and expansion of existing development, and category four- which will only plan for flood evacuation and emergency response.
The report will provide valuable information for all future developments in the villages.
