Murray River Council has released the draft flood modelling results for the Moulamein Flood Study Review, with community members now able to access and explore the updated data online.
The review, which commenced in 2024 in partnership with engineering consultants WMS, aims to update flood modelling and mapping to better support preparedness and response activities for future flood events.
Council's Interim Director Infrastructure, Daniel Hughes said the current Moulamein Flood Study was developed in 2019, prior to the significant 2022 flood event.
"While the original study was comprehensive, the 2022 event brought the highest recorded levels in the Edward River through Moulamein," Mr Hughes said.
"In response, we're undertaking a thorough review using data from that event to ensure the study accurately reflects current conditions and gives us the best possible insight into both riverine and overland flooding."
As part of the review, consultants have gathered data from the 2022 flood, historical reports, and valuable community feedback collected during consultation late last year. This information has helped calibrate new flood models and improve mapping accuracy.
The online mapping portal now features:
- Draft flood mapping of both riverine (inundation from the Edward River, Billabong Creek and associated waterways) and overland (such as inundation from local rainfall) flooding
- Calibration results from the 2022 riverine flood
The Modelling results are classified by various Annual Exceedance Probabilities (AEPs). These AEPs describe the likelihood of different flood events occurring, such as:
- An AEP of 1 in 100 year (or 1% AEP) corresponds to the flood that has a 1% chance of occurring every year (6.20 m at the Moulamein Gauge)
- An AEP of 1 in 5 year (or 20% AEP) corresponds to the flood that has a 20% chance of occurring every year (5.33 m at the Moulamein Gauge)
The draft results are now available online ( Moulamein Flood Study Review - Draft Flood Modelling Results), providing the community with early access to the updated flood data ahead of the public exhibition period.
The Draft Flood Study Review Report is expected to be released for public feedback in August. Council will advise the community of the dates and details once confirmed.
This project is being delivered with support from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
