A Flood Impact Assessment undertaken by Resilience NSW for emergency housing in Mullumbimby is now publicly available.
The document is on the Resilience NSW website and relates to work done on the preparation of land in the rail corridor, for 40 temporary units (also known as pod houses) for emergency accommodation.
The Flood Impact Assessment provides information on a range of flood scenarios for properties around the housing site on Prince Street.
Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, welcomed Resilience NSW's release of the flood impact assessment document, saying residents around the site have been asking for the information for many months.
"People who live in that part of Mullumbimby were heavily impacted by the floods earlier this year.," Mayor Lyon said.
"There is, understandably, a lot of angst and concern about the work on the housing site, especially in relation to the construction of the pad to elevate the units above the 1 in 100-year flood level and what impacts this may have on the neighbouring properties," he said.
"The Flood Impact Assessment contains information about flood modelling and the impacts of different flood events based on the final design of the site.
"It also details work that has been done on the installation of drainage channels and a property protection bund.
"While the report was developed using information from Council's North Byron Shire Floodplain Risk Management Plan, Council has had minimal input into the document, other than trying to ensure that impacts be reduced or removed on neighbouring properties through the site design.
"I hope this document provides people with the technical information they have been asking for in relation to the flood modelling for the pod site and I am hoping it provides confidence and assurance to people about the impact of the development should there be any major flooding in the near future.
"According to the report, there are 11 properties that will see an increase in flooding in a 1 in 100-year event, and 85 properties that will see a reduction in flooding in this type of event.
"Resilience NSW, myself and a representative from the flood consultancy conducted meetings today with residents and property owners potentially impacted by these works to go through the various scenarios and potential impacts resulting from the site works.
"This emergency housing is much needed in Mullumbimby as people continue to work on the long, difficult, and emotional process of getting back to their homes.
"The stories of people's lived experiences in one emergency housing situation after another are harrowing and I hope we can place as many as possible in this more stable form of temporary accommodation in the near future as the pod sites come online," Mayor Lyon said.
Resilience NSW is building 40 self-contained units at Mullumbimby to provide housing for up to 160 people.
The first units are expected to be finished in mid-December with the remaining ones to be completed in early 2023.
The Mullumbimby Flood Impact Assessment is on the Resilience NSW website.
