Flooding is a significant risk in the Mosgiel, Outram and Taieri Plains communities. The Taieri River will break its banks in a significant rainfall flood event, and this has occurred several times in the last few years.
The regional council has conducted flyover photography and debris surveys during or following these flood events, to gain more information on the physical extent of the flooding on the ground, and the levels it has reached.
The local council has been requiring more robust stormwater planning for new developments, and recognising that the rapid growth Mosgiel town is currently experiencing will have a significant impact on the existing stormwater issues if not managed effectively. Many new subdivisions and developments in the area are required to have the ability to retain stormwater in a flood event and to discharge it at an approved rate, whether this is by a retention pond or stormwater tanks. A potential issue with this, is whether this is effectively taking the ‘whole’ situation into account, or if each development is doing the bare minimum and leading to worse flooding problems further down the stormwater network.
I believe that more community engagement would be effective. There have been events held by the regional council recently that encourage people to attend a meeting to discuss their local flooding risks, which is great. A one-off pamphlet drop into each letterbox in the area, clearly explaining what the flooding risks are, would also be effective, and could also contain instructions (and promoting the Get Ready website) on what supplies you may need in an emergency in case you are cut off for several days.