The Narromine Shire Council is conducting a review of the Narromine flood risk management plan, which could potentially reduce flood water heights in the town.
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The council received $92,000 to review the 2009 flood risk management plan, to consider impacts previously excluded from the initial study.
The project will consider in the event of a flood, if a set of railway culverts, two kilometres upstream of Narromine would ensure a breakout flow through Webbs Siding Road to Backwater Cowal reducing the flood heights in town.
While an Inland Rail alignment is yet to be confirmed, the project will also look at the impact of the new railway line which is planned to cross the highway and Maquarie river in the vicinity of Webbs Siding.
Narromine Shire Council mayor Craig Davies said the review has the potential to reduce flood levels in Narromine by almost half a metre, which would also reduce the height of the levee.
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"It is critical to council that we minimise the disruption to people in town, and by that I mean we want to put in a levee that will satisfy a one in 100 year flood, but at the same time be as low as it can possibly be," he said.
"If in fact our review determines that yes there is some correlation, that means the river height would be half a metre lower in town, and we can bring our [levee] heights down by half a metre.
"It doesn't sound much but is a very significant difference."
The mayor believes it is "critical" to investigate the possibility of creating a breakout flow, to prevent what occurred in 1955.
"It is critical, because in 1955 due to a lack of culverts there in that Webb Siding rail line it allowed the river to just build up, and up, until finally it blew the rail line.
"Because it had such a head of water behind it, it was like a three metre tidal wave that swept down stream.
"It had quite a devastating effect on landholders below there."
While the review will draw out the project for almost another six months, Cr Davies said it's important to look at every aspect to minimise the impact on residents.
"I know it's making this whole process longer ... but if that means we can drop that levee by half a metre, it would have been well worth it. More than anything I'm focused on the fact that we get one go at this," he said.
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
