Communications with Newcastle City Council

On the 19th March 2008 Kathie Heyman inquired about representation on the Newcastle Flood Advisory Group Sub Committee. The response forwarded by Newcastle City Council (NCC) was that there has not been a following meeting since the Wallsend flood sub-committee met with NCC in November 2007 and that the next meeting with Wallsend on the agenda will be held in late October to consider an updated Draft Floodplain Management Plan for Wallsend. Council state: “The recommendations of the draft Wallsend Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan may impact of property owners.” However, “[t]here is no indication at this point that there will be substantial government funding to implement the plan.
Max McCorkell of the Base Warehouse corresponded with NCC regarding “Suggestions to save Nelson Street in Wallsend in times of flooding”. Mr McCorkell suggested to control and divert flooding in Wallsend. Mr McCorkell suggested increasing the storm water drainage of Wallsend. NCC advised that such options have been considered in the preparation of the Draft Floodplain Management Study and Plan for Wallsend (March 2007). However, “if Nelson Street was to be made free from flash flooding, the existing trunk drainage channel in the Wallsend Business District would need to be widened from its present 17 metres width to become 120 meters wide, with 1 metre high containing walls either side. The cost and the widespread impact this would have on the Wallsend Business District forced the Draft Floodplain Management Study to conclude this option was not viable.” Mr McCorkell suggested increasing the waterway area of the existing bridge in Minmi Road over Ironbark Creek. However, NCC advise that this measure would only reduce the 1 in 100 flash flood by an amount of 10 centimetres.
NCC state that there are an estimated 19,000 properties in the Newcastle Local Government Area which can be affected by flash flooding (about 1,000 of these are located in the Wallsend area) and an estimated 2,000 properties which can be affected by Hunter River flooding. Scientifically based flood studies covering all of Newcastle are expected to be completed over the next few months. Following this, flood modelling data will be upgraded and different scenarios tested over 12 months. Once these trials are completed, and after community consultation, a city-wide flood management plan will be implemented.