Campaspe Shire Council has welcomed a new practical resource designed to help residents reduce the impacts of future flooding and recover more quickly when flood events occur.
At its meeting on 22 September, Council noted the draft Flood Resilient Homes Guide and a suite of four supporting fact sheets, which provide practical, property-level strategies to help homeowners improve the flood resilience of existing homes and inform the design of new homes.
The project commenced in April following the engagement of a reputable architectural firm with significant experience in natural disaster-resilient design and is now ready for release. The guide was developed as part of Council's broader flood resilience work and responds directly to community needs identified through consultation with the Rochester Community Recovery Committee and local stakeholders.
Campaspe Shire Mayor, Cr Daniel Mackrell said the guide would give residents practical information they could use to make informed decisions about protecting their homes and families from future flood events.
"Flooding is part of life for many communities across Campaspe, and while we can't always prevent floods from occurring, we can help residents better prepare for them," Cr Mackrell said.
"This guide provides practical, easy-to-understand advice that can help homeowners reduce damage, minimise recovery costs and get back on their feet sooner after a flood.
"Importantly, it has been shaped by local experience and local knowledge, ensuring the information is relevant to the types of homes and flood risks we see across our region, which includes flash flooding and riverine flooding."
The guide explores a range of flood-resilient design approaches, including wet proofing, dry proofing and elevating key household services such as switchboards, hot water systems and appliances. It also provides guidance on flood-resilient building materials and tailored advice for common housing types found throughout Campaspe Shire.
The resources were developed using three typical Campaspe dwelling types, and based on homes in Rochester, helping residents identify mitigation options best suited to their own properties.
The mayor said the project was an example of Council working collaboratively with the community to support long-term resilience.
"The guide complements a range of flood studies, mitigation projects and emergency preparedness initiatives currently underway across Campaspe," Cr Mackrell said.
"Together, these projects are helping build a safer, stronger and more resilient community by giving residents the information they need to understand their flood risk and make practical improvements over time."
The project was fully funded through external grant funding under the Council Flood Support Fund and will be shared with other municipalities through the Northern Victorian Emergency Management Cluster, helping communities across the region benefit from the work undertaken in Campaspe.
Council noted that the guide is intended as an educational resource only and does not create any mandatory building or renovation requirements for residents. Printed copies of the guide and fact sheets will be made available through Council service centres and libraries, while digital versions will be accessible via Council's website and Emergency Dashboard.
