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THURSDAY 2 December 2021
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Flooding: Where to from here? The answers might surprise you by Paul Mullins
Beautiful and terrifying ... the Molong Creek has a proven ability to change from a slow meandering stream of quiet waters to a raging torrent which has destroyed homes, businesses, roads and footpaths in a matter of hours. The flood in Molong last Friday was, in meteorological terms, a one in twenty five year event. The "year" term is an averaging figure. But its close enough. The floods of 1956, 1990 and 2010 (the latter to a lesser extent) reached almost identical heights according to the marks on my back step. The major 2005 flood was classified as a 100 year event. A sudden massive downpour swept a wave of water down and already swamped system and washed through the town. The flooding of the Molong Creek will always continue to some extent. What to do about it? Well, there are 3 options:
1. Do Nothing.
That is, accept that, say, Walter Burley Griffin probably would not have located Bank and other streets so low if he had been around way back then. So, just clean up after the flood and start again. Provide financial assistance to those affected. 2. Move to higher ground. Relocate flood affected buildings (homes, businesses etc) out of the floodzone.
Obviously a long term solution. But easier said than done. Re-purchase schemes for houses in Cabonne floodzones already exist in Molong and Eugowra. Not beyond the realms of possibility to extend the scheme to businesses - but massively expensive. It would nevertheless provide magnificent parkland at the bottom end of town. Similar creations exist along creeks in numerous towns throughout the State. 3. Mitigate the effects of flood. Now we're talking. This involves shifting the flow from the Molong Creek away from Watson / Bank Streets into an engineered floodway that would direct the torrent past the town centre on the other side of the creek. This option must embrace a number of issues, too comprehensive to detail here, but includes increasing capacity under the railway bridges, creek vegetation and, most importantly, Molong's stormwater drainage system. Note that the main body of water entering Bank Street last Friday came up through the drains. Properties further up the hill suffer stormwater overflow effects constantly. All this water heads straight to the creek. In past years successive Councils have received numerous consultant's reports on flood events - but none identified positive long term practical solutions.
They all lacked accurate technical data on topography surveys, hydrologic and hydraulic models in accordance with latest rainfall and runoff inputs. In other words there was insufficient data to model the design or effect any mitigation works would have - including a flood levee. Under State Government planning protocols individual Councils must initiate flood management action - through formal “Floodplain Management Committees” involving Council technical staff, representatives from NSW State Emergency Services and relevant NSW Government departments. Otherwise requests to fund mitigation works will be in vain. The current Council, in May 2020, formally reconstituted the Molong Floodplain Management Advisory Committee. It has met on several occasions and has been active in remedying the basic need to have up to date, accurate data so that experts can model predicted flood events and measure the effects of mitigation proposals - levees and the like. Friday's event will no doubt concentrate these efforts - but will take some months to complete. Meanwhile, watch this space and back to cleaning up.
$2.00 inc gst
Photo: Peter Donner
Town responds as it always has
Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty was soon on the scene in Bank Street last Friday. His phone constantly at his ear receiving and making calls to SES, Fire, Road, Council staff and other authorities as the water crept up the street. Meanwhile, he was surrounded by hundreds of local residents who appeared to lend a hand. Young and old alike they offered gratefully received assistance to businesses and householders. First, to shore up buildings with sandbags which arrived none too soon. Then, to stay on late into the night and the next day. It was heartening to see these willing hands lifting floorcoverings, moving furniture, mopping floors, cleaning up the swimming pool - and diligently going about countless other tasks that come with such an event. Local hospitality venues supplied coffee and food at Saturday's cleanup. Member for Orange Phil Donato visited Molong on Saturdayand said he was delighted by the community spirit. He said Cabonne residents affected by Friday's flash flooding are eligible for disaster funding. Well done to you all.
Molong Covid Scare
As of Tuesday morning we understand that new cases of Covid 19 have suddenly been detected in and around Molong. Unconfirmed reports are that it could be as high as 13+ new cases.