Improvements to Cooma's flood protections and disaster resilience are on the way by mid-2026 thanks to NSW Public Works and Snowy Monaro Regional Council's upcoming project to repair and upgrade Cooma Levee on Cooma Creek.
Once complete, the four-part project will provide better flooding and stormwater protections for Cooma residents and businesses.
Project highlights
- Repair or replacement of 17 floodgates and a stormwater culvert
- New concrete masonry for the Cooma Levee structural wall
- Restoration of the earthen (compacted soil) levee
- Removal of encroaching vegetation and animal burrows
Weather permitting, work will begin by June 2026 ahead of expected completion by the end of August 2026.
These essential works will ensure Cooma has the protection against natural disasters that it needs right now and set the stage for the major grant-funded levee project planned for the latter half of 2026.
The project team will engage with Cooma Creek stakeholders over the course of the upcoming works, including Landcare, Lions and Rotary Clubs, local businesses, and the LAOKO wildlife rescue and rehabilitation group. NSW Public Works will contact adjoining landowners directly before any work begins.
NSW Public Works expects the contract for the upcoming works to be awarded by the end of April 2026, following the completion of the open tender review process.
In preparation for the project, staff from NSW Public Works used the latest drone technology to undertake a comprehensive condition assessment of Cooma's flood protection infrastructure.
The resulting high-accuracy land survey data has been used to prioritise the repairs and upgrades that will ensure Cooma remains protected against future flooding events.
