Historical floodplain management plans
Historically, the management of floodplains relied upon the preparation of localised floodplain management plans under Part 8 of the Water Act 1912. These localised floodplain management plans were designed to achieve the following outcomes to the benefit of both rural communities and the floodplain environment, allowing farmers to plan for future sustainable development based on a strategic scheme for the management of floodwaters:
- Mapping of floodplain development, major flood flow-paths and flood-dependent ecosystems to better manage floodplain assets
- Mapping of unobstructed floodway networks to identify effective passage of floodwaters and maintain floodplain connectivity to protect and enhance flood-dependent ecosystems and fish passage
- Provision of guidelines to determine where landholder flood protection works can and cannot be constructed
- Provision of remedial solutions to resolve hydraulic and environmental ‘hot-spots’ using a strategic risk management approach
- Provision of assessment criteria for regulating existing and future flood control works within floodway networks
Localised floodplain management plans prepared under Part 8 of the Water Act 1912 are superseded upon the commencement of a floodplain management plan under the Water Management Act 2000,
Of the 22 localised floodplain management plans prepared under Part 8 of the Water Act 1912, 21 remain in-force across NSW currently.
Total area covered by rural floodplain management plans = 23,970 km2 >