Counting flood cost

Goulburn Mulwaree Council

Arthurs Road.jpg

Results of last weekend’s flooding has differed across the region, with recent storm damage repair works withstanding the weather event quite well. Over 150mm fell over Thursday and Friday throughout parts of the LGA, triggering an extensive clean-up and assessments this week.

Goulburn Mulwaree has been declared eligible for Disaster Assistance funding, with initial assessments estimating damage in the order of around $5 million.

General Manager Warwick Bennett said the flood will add considerably to Council’s workload, but that recently completed repair works stood up well.

“We were hit particularly hard in the southern and eastern parts of our LGA, such as Windellama and Oallen. What was particularly pleasing was the fact that recent repair works completed on roads such as Towrang Road, Canyonleigh Road and Covan Creek Road have fared very well.”

“We thank the NSW Government and Federal Government for their support through the Disaster Assistance program, which has enabled us to not only repair roads, culverts and crossings after floods in 2020 but to also improve the resilience of assets which allows roads to remain open during these times.”

“The evidence shows that when we are given enough funds to actually improve the crossings, with concrete culverts as an example, they become far more resistant to flooding, thus saving repeat damage and cost during future events.”

Council staff have this week been focusing on preliminary clean-ups to ensure roads are safe and driveable for the holiday period. Works have been focused on emergency response to make roads safe on Cullulla Road, Windellama Road, Painters Lane, Bullamalita Road, Spa Road and Sandy Point Road with Council crews and contractors moving onto other roads mainly in the south of the LGA in the coming days.

An application for funding through the Disaster Assistance program will be lodged as soon as a thorough assessment of the network can be undertaken and appropriately costed, in the short term crews and contractors will be focusing on emergency response.

/Public Release. View in full here.