Identifying Flood Risk In Ballarat
The City of Ballarat is progressing efforts to identify the risk of flood around 11 waterways within the municipality.
The Ballarat 11 Waterways Community Engagement Report provides the community with an overview of the consultation conducted on updated flood modelling in 2024 and includes common themes raised by residents and how the City of Ballarat has addressed them.
The City of Ballarat is obliged by State Government policy to develop integrated long-term plans for the sustainable development and wellbeing of communities, as well as ensure policies and controls for land use remain current in the Ballarat Planning Scheme.
Submissions to the Community Engagement Report will help inform the final Ballarat 11 Waterways flood study, which is a joint project between the City of Ballarat and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, and will be released for further community comment prior to consideration by Council.
The Ballarat 11 Waterways Flood Study includes proposed flood overlay maps and updated flood modelling that identifies areas at risk of flooding around the following waterways:
In response to submissions, the flood models for Redan Creek and Canadian Creek and Tributaries are currently being refined.
If endorsed by Council, the flood study – which has been peer reviewed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and several external contractors – will be included in the Ballarat Planning Scheme as flood overlays later in the year.
Flood overlays in the Ballarat Planning Scheme will allow the updated modelling to inform land use and development decisions in flood-prone areas. The flood study will also be used by emergency services (VICSES and City of Ballarat), to plan for flood events and by the City of Ballarat to identify areas where flood mitigation and infrastructure works are required.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves encouraged community members to read the Community Engagement Report to understand how the updated flood modelling may impact their property.
“Ensuring we have current information in the Ballarat Planning Scheme regarding flood modelling allows the City of Ballarat and Council to make informed decisions about land use, development and flood mitigation works,” Cr Hargreaves said.
“Protecting our community from flood risk is at the heart of this process, and I am pleased to see progress towards including the new flood modelling data into the Ballarat Planning Scheme.”
https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/news/identifying-flood-risk-ballarat