Minutes of the Extraordinary Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee held on Tuesday 17 March 2020.

 

 

PRESENT

Councillor Greg Conkey OAM              Wagga Wagga City Council

Councillor Vanessa Keenan                Wagga Wagga City Council

Councillor Rod Kendall                         Wagga Wagga City Council

Jenny Rolfe                                             Community Member

Ros Prangnell                                        Community Member

Patricia Murray                                       Community Member

Brian Mahony                                         Community Member

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

 

Peter Thompson                                    General Manager

Steve Manwaring                                   Department Planning, Industry & Environment

Peter Ross                                              Manager Technical and Strategy

Darryl Woods                                          Manager Council Businesses

Amir Abbasnia                                        Design Engineer, Sewer & Stormwater

Michael Casey                                        Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Andrew Mason                                       Project Manager

Michael Friend                                        Co-opted Community Member

Fiona Ziff                                                 Co-opted Community Member

Erin Askew                                              WMAwater

Nigel Rajaratnam                                   The CIE

Karyn Wong                                            Woolcott

Shannon Coghlan                                  Infrastructure Administration Coordinator (Minute Taker)

 

APOLOGIES

 

Caroline Angel                                       Director Commercial Operations

Barry Griffiths                                         NSW State Emergency Service

Craig Ronan                                           NSW State Emergency Service

 

The meeting of the Extraordinary Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee commenced at 8.35am.

Acknowledgement Of Country

I would like to Acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this Land, on which this meeting takes place and to pay my respects to Elders past and present.

 

Declarations Of Interest

No declarations of interest received.


 

 

At this stage of the meeting with agreement of the Committee, the Chair, Councillor V Keenan amended the Order of Business to bring forward General Business.

general business

GB-1          COMMUNITY MEMBER ATTENDANCE AT FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING – 17 MARCH 2020

Discussion and consideration was given by the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee on the recommendation below, in particular the role and function of Council, the role and function of the Committee, and the Chair’s role as media spokesperson.

The Chair, Councillor V Keenan, moved the recommendation

That the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee:

a       allow the North Wagga Wagga Residents Group and community members to attend this meeting in full or in limited numbers including:

 

                 i.       to allow members of the community to observe the debate and voting on RP-1 – Floodplain Risk Management Study correspondence

 

                ii.       to allow members of the community to observe the debate and voting on RP-2 – WMAwater Draft Report and Presentation

 

               iii.       to allow members of the community to observe the debate and voting on RP-3 – Proposed Community and Stakeholder Plan – Centre For International Economics

 

b       allow media to attend this meeting

 

The RECOMMENDATION of being put to the Committee was LOST.

Reports from Staff

RP-1          Floodplain Risk Management Study Correspondence

 

Recommendation:

                    On the Motion of J Rolfe and R Kendall

That the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee:

a       receive and note this report

b       receive and note the correspondence with the Office of the Hon. Matthew Kean, Minister for Energy and Environment

c       recommend that a third party be engaged to undertake a short review of options for North Wagga Wagga in the Floodplain Risk Management Study Plan (FRMSP) to be considered for inclusion in the current feasibility study (2018-19-FM-0071)

 

CARRIED

 

Discussion on the Report

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment  representative advised that the Floodplain Management Manual was developed to guide Councils and that it stipulates a process to be followed. There were shortcomings in the 2015 NSW Department of Public Works report. This report did not comply with the Floodplain Management Manual being it was an economic study and not a full study.

 

Concerns were raised on behalf of North Wagga Wagga residents that the process was flawed and that the findings of the Murrumbidgee River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2018) by WMAwater were flawed.

 

The Committee and attendees discussed the various study ranges, from 1 in 20 studies, through to 1 in 100.

 

The Committee discussed what a ‘short’ review of the Floodplain Risk Management Study Plan (FRMSP) – per the Minister’s correspondence – would look like, who ought or might conduct the review, and the timeframe. Acknowledging that the review would not be a reconfiguration of the entire FRMSP. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment  representative suggested that Council could apply for funding to incorporate a review.

 

 

RP-2          WMAwater Draft Report and Presentation

 

Recommendation:

                    On the Motion of R Prangnell and J Rolfe

That the committee

a       receive and note the draft report

b       note that representatives from WMAwater are attending the meeting to present project updates

 

CARRIED

 

WMAwater made a presentation to the Committee on the progress of the Wagga Wagga Major Overland Flow Study.

 

Feedback to be provided by members via the Secretariat by the end of the week.


 

 

Questions and comments on the presentation and reports

 

Option LA01 – Lake Albert Enhanced Flow Scheme: Lake Albert Road

 

Ros Prangnell asked what the consequences would be for a full Lake Albert, if there are back-to-back events.

 

The Chair specified that early consultation should happen with impacted stakeholders (for example, the Boat Club) prior to public exhibition.

 

Options LA02/03 – Lake Albert Enhanced Flow Scheme: Crooked Creek, Stringybark Creek, Lake Albert Road

 

Recommendation to move forward with a Physical Feasibility Study with a high priority.

 

Option GD03  – Glenfield Drain Scheme: Anderson Oval Basin

 

The Chair asked for consultation to occur with the Parks team as it relates to Anderson Oval.

 

Option GD05  – Glenfield Drain Scheme: Flowerdale Lagoon

 

Council would need to undertake further consultation with the Aboriginal community.

 

Discussion is also needed around implications for planning and development.

 

Council staff to follow up and provide advice via email in relation to planning and environment.

 

 

RP-3          Proposed Community and Stakeholder Plan - Centre for International Economics

 

Recommendation:

                    On the Motion of R Kendall and J Rolfe

That the committee

a       note and receive the report

b       receive the presentation provided by the CIE on the proposed communication plan for the Feasibility Study Flood Mitigation, North Wagga Wagga project

 

CARRIED

 

 

CIE and Woolcott Research and Engagement made a presentation to the Committee on the proposed Community and Stakeholder Plan.

 

 

 

Questions and comments on the presentation and reports

 

·         Some of the most affected live outside of the identified villages and are often excluded from consultation.

 

·         Question whether representation across the areas should be proportionate to the population size.

 

·         Committee asked that the draft survey be returned for Committee review, rather than just to Council.

 

·         Discussion around delays to public consultation due to COVID-19 restrictions.

 

The Department Planning, Industry and Environment is aware of extensions to timeframes. Karyn Wong (Woolcott) noted that the costs associated with delays in other engagement projects have been around the recruitment of participants and venue bookings. The preparatory work itself is not date contingent.

 

·         Discussion around opportunity and mechanisms for all individuals to have their voices heard through the various engagement mechanisms

 

 

QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

 

No Questions with Notice were received.

 

 

The Extraordinary Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee rose at 1.36pm.