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The Richmond River catchment covers five local government areas (Ballina Shire, Byron Shire, Lismore City, Kyogle Shire and Richmond Valley). The mechanisms in place across that area for flood warnings and evacuations were not well understood. Council identified a need to review the arrangements in place with particular emphasis on four key areas: Review of flood gauges as tools for measuring flood heights; preparation of a communication strategy; review of flood management risk systems and evacuation plans; and assessment and development of a Richmond River catchment flood model. The report presented by BMT WBM was adopted by Council at its meeting 18 April 2006.
BMT WBM Richmond River Flood Warning and Evacuation Management Review report April 2016
The NSW government’s Flood Prone Land Policy is directed towards providing solutions to existing flooding problems in developed areas and ensuring that new development is compatible with the flood hazard and does not create additional flooding problems in other areas. Policy and practice are defined in the New South Wales Floodplain Development Manual (2005). Under the policy, the management of flood prone land remains the responsibility of local government. The State government subsidises flood mitigation works to alleviate existing problems and provides specialist technical advice to assist councils in their floodplain management responsibilities. The 2010 study represented the first stage of the floodplain risk management process. The study is the first of three studies aimed at understanding and managing flooding within the Richmond Valley between Casino, Lismore and Broadwater.