Eugowra residents have been left frustrated and disheartened as the village’s flood plain issue remains unresolved despite meeting with Cabonne principal strategic planner Andrew Napier.
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The meeting was held as part of the Cabonne Settlement Strategy aimed at advancing villages and towns in the shire but residents say this is not possible until consultants produce a review of the village’s development control plan.
Residents are concerned a flood plain classification on their properties restricts their sale and impacts on the village’s development.
“It is almost five years since the people of Eugowra raised this concern,” Eugowra resident Bruce Noble said.
“To say we are disappointed is the understatement of the year.
“Residents are sick of going to meetings.”
Cabonne Council representatives say residents can expect a draft of the new flood plain strategy in late April after waiting almost two years for a review by civil engineering firm Lyle Marshall and Associates following an inconclusive report in 1999.
“We will be advertising that draft and getting some community comments,” Cabonne engineering and technical services director Robert Staples said.
The study will look at several different types of flood intensities -a one in 20 year flood or a one in 100 year flood - as well as flood mitigation and financial impact.
It will also take into account residents’ concerns about the impact the flood plain classification has on their property values and the town’s development.
“As a resident here as well, it has hindered the development of Eugowra,” Cabonne councillor David Hyde said.
“We need to ensure we have a future for Eugowra.
“Some insurance companies are saying no to insuring, the premiums are too high.”
The majority of houses and the CBD are subject to construction regulations, including raising floors 300mm above the highest known flood level despite residents reporting the eastern side of the village receiving only 20mm of deep storage water during the milder Puzzle Flat Creek floods.
While locals admit the western side of the village does experience deeper and faster floodwaters from Mandagery Creek, they say it is no more of a problem in Eugowra than in other neighbouring towns.
“Yes we do occasionally get a flood , but have plenty of warning with time to move things out of the way and then clean up after,” lifelong resident Ron Hay said.
Eugowra Promotion and Progress Association chairman Bob Roach added: “We can’t agree to any strategy until the flood plain issue is resolved to our satisfaction.”
Erin Somerville
