A $3 million Australian government grant has extended a program designed to reduce the risk and impact of flood events in towns in inland NSW.
The Improving Floodplain Connections—Urban Protection Program is a risk-reduction program that targets existing flood works. Since 2022, it has been working to restore hydrological connectivity across the northern basin floodplains of inland NSW.
“We need to build resilience for communities against flood hazards, especially as climate change brings more challenges than ever before,” said New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW) Director of Healthy Floodplains Project Delivery Alastair McKenzie-McHarg. “Expanding the Improving Floodplain Connections Program will build on the critical work done to date and deliver a coordinated approach for these high-risk locations to mitigate against flooding to towns across our state’s west. Flooding remains one of the biggest natural disaster threats to the people of NSW. This program takes another vital step towards remediating the most high-risk flood works, which will help protect people, their homes and businesses from future harm.”
The grant, funded through the Commonwealth National Emergency Management Agency, will provide $3 million over three years. It will investigate areas where rural flood works impact urban communities and propose remediation options.
The funding will allow the NSW Government to expand the program and help develop an evidence-based, coordinated approach to addressing risks to life and property in urban areas in inland NSW that result from rural flood work development.
The expansion will:
- Help determine a remediation pathway to modify and approve flood works, working closely with the landholder
- Raise awareness and help communities better understand the rules around Floodplain Management Plans, which will improve compliance culture
- Continue meaningful engagement and collaboration with First Nations communities, landholders and other key stakeholders
The expansion will build on the Improving Floodplain Connections Program’s work to date and will help mitigate flooding in towns in high-risk locations, including Moree, Bourke, Forbes, Moama, Narromine, Walgett, Hay, Condobolin, and other inland towns and communities.
The Department has identified 14 Local Government Areas across inland NSW where flood works pose known risks and have received strong support for the program.
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