By Ewen McRae
Moorabool council has started future-proofing the region from major flooding.
Recent high rainfall in the region has highlighted the potential flooding issue and the council will ask Planning Minister Richard Wynne to introduce new flood controls into its planning scheme.
A report at last week’s council meeting stated that the Moorabool Planning Scheme does not currently have any overlays to identify land affected by a “One in 100 year flood event”.
A proposed amendment to the planning scheme would ensure that flood risk is considered in future land development decisions, and would affect the catchments of the Werribee River, Lerderderg River and Little River.
“The amendment will ensure that council can appropriately regulate proposed development on flood-prone land and ensure that flooding is not exacerbated on other properties by inappropriate development,” the report stated.
“Whilst the new planning controls will increase the regulatory burden on council and land owners, it is important to identify the flood hazard to ensure that life and property are not unduly placed at risk.”
The amended planning scheme will be available for public exhibition following approval from Mr Wynne.
