Subsequent to the release of the 1979 report the Commonwealth and State Governments agreed to share the cost of the preparation of flood mitigation plans for selected inland rivers in New South Wales. The plans are to outline a programme of practical flood mitigation works and Commonwealth/State/Local Government programme. Accordingly, in January 1980 Rankine and Hill Pty. Ltd. were engaged to prepare a further report which would develop recommended strategies to allow them to be judged as 'real life' schemes worthy of Government support. The brief was widened to include consideration of flooding along the significant tributaries and effluents of the Lachlan River as well as its main stem.

The present report titled 'A Flood Mitigation Plan for the Lachlan Valley' has been prepared under the guidance of a steering committee consisting of officers of the Commonwealth Department of National Resources, the Water Resources Commission of New South Wales, and the New South Wales Department of Environment and Planning.

The aim of the proposed flood plain management study is to recommend a programme of works and other measures that may form the basis of a Commonwealth/State/Local Government programme.