A majority of respondents to the draft Narrabri Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan have supported flood mitigation options outlined in the document.
This is one of the findings from the public exhibition of the draft plan last year, with key results tabled at the final council meeting for 2022.
Seventy-one per cent of respondents were in support of the voluntary house raising and voluntary house purchasing program, 55 per cent were in support of the proposed planning changes and 69 per cent were in support of the proposed channel widening and levee scheme.
Of the 86 submissions, four were against the voluntary house raising and voluntary house purchasing program, three were against the proposed planning changes and there were no responses against the channel widening and levee scheme proposal, the council report noted.
A total of 168 Narrabri stakeholders attended the community sessions.
In addition to the community sessions, the draft plan itself was placed on extended community consultation for a period of 60 days.
Staff will hold councillor workshops early this year to further review and discuss the findings and implications of the draft Narrabri Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan with the elected body prior to a final report being presented.
Among the recommendations in the draft Narrabri Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan are significant zoning changes and building considerations for new developments.
Voluntary house purchasing and house raising options to be made available to eligible residents in the most at-risk areas forms part of the mitigation measures.
Further analysis of channel widening and levee schemes for Horsearm and Mulgate Creeks as well as the investigation of suitable sites for new evacuation centres also formed part of the draft plan.
Areas surrounding creeks and rivers are deemed a high risk.
No filling or residential/commercial development of any kind would be allowed in the high risk zone.
All future development would be prohibited as part of the plan. Undeveloped land within the floodway, mostly along Mulgate Creek adjacent to industrial land, would be
rezoned.
In the high risk zone, possible participation in the voluntary purchasing scheme for existing residential properties which meet the NSW Department of Planning and Environment criteria forms part of the mitigation strategy.
Changes will also be made to the medium risk zone which takes in all of the Narrabri town area, the village and parts of Narrabri West.
Part of Narrabri West has also been deemed a low risk area.
The medium risk area, which covers much of Narrabri, includes the same measures as a low flood zone.
Prohibiting land use intensification (i.e. subdivision, construction of additional habitable residential structures on already developed lots), forms part of the mitigation strategy.
Prohibiting development for which assisted evacuation would be required (aged care and some medical facilities) is also among the recommendations.
Residental property owners in the low risk area will see almost no change to how they may develop their property.
The document contains varying priorities, from high to low, with the highest being to develop and implement an ongoing flood education plan, consult with properties currently identified for voluntary purchase as well as applying for state government funding.
Horsearm Creek mitigation is also a high priority.
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