Lower Macleay River Floodplain Risk Management plan

Protecting our future against flood events

How should we manage risks for future flood events?

How can we better plan and prepare for future flood events?

What is happening?

Kempsey township and the downstream communities of Frederickton, Gladstone and Smithtown have long been regarded as among Australia’s worst flood impact locations.

The Lower Macleay River Floodplain Risk Management Plan will outline a range of measures to manage existing, future and residual flood risks effectively and provide a prioritised implementation strategy in the event of a flood emergency.

Why do we need this plan?

The plan will allow the community and Council to manage flood risk through prevention, preparedness, response and recovery activities.

The plan will also provide a better understanding of:

• variations in flood risks and hazards in the Lower Macleay
• the impacts and costs for a range of flood events and risks for the existing and future communities
• the impact of changes in development and a changing climate on flood risk
• emergency response opportunities and limitations
• the effectiveness of the current emergency response procedures

What stage is this?

• This is options stage where Council and the community will identify priority options. Council have engaged a consultant Jacobs Pty Ltd who have looked at possible options based upon previous feedback and modelling. Now it is over to Council and the community to overlay an on the ground perspective to improved flood management.

How you can be involved

We understand many of our community have been impacted by recent flood events and would like to share their experience and knowledge to ensure our community remains safe the next time a flood event occurs.

There will be three ways you can provide feedback later in the year:

• Complete a short survey where you rank your preferred flood mitigation options. You’ll also have the opportunity to suggest other flood mitigation options not included in the survey.
• Attend a workshop. Council will facilitate a community workshop to discuss the potential impacts of the flood mitigation options and what the preferred methods would be.
• Send your written submission to the General Manager.

We will notify the community when these opportunities for engagement are available.

Flood Study Plan

To access the flood study plan, download the documents from the 19 December 2023 Ordinary Council meeting.