Calling all residents of Murwillumbah! Tweed Shire Council invites you to actively participate in shaping the future of our town by sharing your thoughts on the draft addendum to the Murwillumbah CBD Levee and Drainage Study.
Manager Roads and Stormwater Danny Rose said the draft study was an opportunity for Council to work towards creating a safer and more flood-resilient community.
"The original study, conducted in 2018, helped us to understand the flood risks and devise mitigation strategies for Murwillumbah. However, the 2022 flood event and the degree of business and residential losses in the CBD catchment prompted us to re-evaluate and expand on our initial plans," Mr Rose said.
"We have already secured the support of the National Emergency Management Agency, through tranche 1 of the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program, to fund pump station upgrades in Murwillumbah."
The draft addendum study will be used to guide investment under this program by recommending a series of flood pump station upgrades. This will boost the capacity of the drainage systems behind the town levees while the river is in flood, to reduce the impacts of inundation.
"While we can't make the town flood free, these measures will improve the town's resilience and is a proactive step towards addressing worsening flood risk with a changing climate," he said.
"The draft study thoroughly assesses these options, using new data and modelling of the 2022 flood. Recommended upgrades to the existing pump stations at Lavender Creek and Wharf Street will significantly improve performance and reduce economic losses.
"However, we need your perspective to ensure that these recommendations properly reflect the needs of our town. Your involvement is important in shaping the future of Murwillumbah."
The draft addendum to the Murwillumbah CBD Levee and Drainage Study is open for public feedback now until Wednesday 20 September 2023.
To have your say, make a written submission in one of the following ways:
