Understanding the impacts of overland fooding and stormwater in Ballina Shire

ROBERT HEYWARD

To enhance community resilience, Ballina Shire Council is committed to better preparing the community to withstand the challenges and impacts of future food events.

“This work involves conducting detailed food mapping and modelling projects to better understand fooding, identify ways to minimise its impact, and incorporate effective mitigation strategies into the region’s future plans,” said Paul Crozier, Manager Engineering Works at Ballina Shire Council.

“To enhance the accuracy of food modelling across Ballina Shire, we are inviting the community to share descriptions and photos of observed overland fooding.”

“This includes detailed accounts from the March 2022 food event to help refne and calibrate the models.

Information from other signifcant rainfall events is also valuable and welcomed.”

Current public consultations are underway for several key studies in Ballina Shire, including the Ballina Island and West Ballina Local Stormwater Drainage Management Study and Stormwater Masterplan (SWMP), as well as the Alstonville, Wardell, and Lennox Head Overland Flood Studies.

These studies focus on overland fooding, which occurs when heavy rainfall exceeds the capacity of the drainage system, causing water to fow over land. This type of fooding commonly affects streets, yards, and low-lying areas where water accumulates and cannot drain quickly enough.

The SWMP and food studies aim to:

• Assess the current capacity of the stormwater drainage system.

• Model and map overland fooding during various storm scenarios, including the signifcant March 2022 storm.

• Pinpoint areas prone to fooding due to stormwater limitations.

• Propose potential stormwater system upgrades to reduce future fooding risks.

Community members are invited to participate in an online survey from 20 November to 20 December 2024.

Details about the studies, along with the survey link, are available on the Council’s YourSay page at www. yoursayballina.com. au/overland-foodstudy.

Findings from the studies will be showcased in a public exhibition in 2025. The insights gathered will play a vital role in enhancing town planning, guiding future development, and improving emergency responses to future storm events.

These initiatives are funded by Ballina Shire Council in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).