The study area comprises the Emu Creek floodplain within the urban area of Grenfell and its environs. The catchment area of Emu Creek and its tributaries at Holy Camp Road is 20 square kilometres. Flooding on the streams is “flash flooding” in nature, with flood levels peaking two to three hours after the commencement of heavy rainfall.
The overall objectives of the Floodplain Risk Management Study (FRMS) were to assess the impacts of flooding, review existing Council policies as they relate to development of land in flood liable areas bordering Emu Creek and its tributaries, consider options for management of flood affected land and to develop a draft Floodplain Risk Management Plan (FRMP) which:
- Proposes modifications to existing Council policies to ensure that the development of flood affected land is undertaken so as to be compatible with the flood hazard and risk.
- Proposes Flood Planning Levels for the various land uses in the Floodplain.
- Sets out the recommended program of works and measures aimed at reducing over time, the social, environmental and economic impacts of flooding.
- Provides a program for implementation of the proposed works and measures.
The FRMS focusses on main stream flooding from Emu Creek and its tributary streams. The solutions of problems resulting from surcharges of the stormwater drainage system in individual allotments, remote from the creeks, which may occur during localised storms on the residential sub-catchments in Grenfell, are outside the scope of the present investigation.
