Tocumwal and Barooga Flood Study Report - We Need Your Feedback

The Flood Study presents the results of detailed investigations into both Murray River and local runoff flooding conditions, focusing on flooding impacts to the townships of Tocumwal and Barooga. 

QUICK SUMMARY

• the study presented is step 1 to an overall flood study which will be completed in the near future. The feedback from step 1 will be used to collate step 2 which will come back to the community for further feedback and consultation. 
• the risk management study and plan is where we identify actions/infrastructure to mitigate the risk;
• for this planning phase, what we want is to test the model;
• any feedback from the community that helps to understand how the model aligns with what has been seen/recorded is welcome;
• using the information (including dates), the flood modeller can overlay the feedback to support the calibration of the model

Council are inviting residents to review the study and have your say.

To start, watch this mid-length video that explains the flood study document located at the bottom of the page. 

The study has drawn on flood records for the Murray River dating back to 1867.  Of particular importance to the study has been data for floods which occurred in 1975, 1993, and 2016. The study commenced in 2020 and should have been complete around the timing of the 2022 flood. Feedback from the community on how the model (maps) and local knowledge of the 2022 flood align would be beneficial.

Hydrologic and hydraulic computer modelling has been used to generate detailed flood mapping for a range of varying size floods.  This includes the 1% annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood, commonly referred to as the 1 in 100 flood.  The 1% AEP flood has a probability of occurrence in any given year of 1%.

Notable findings from the study for Barooga are that the Murray River generally does not impact the township in events up to a 5% AEP flood.  The Seppelts levee, upstream of Barooga is overtopped in the 1% AEP, allowing more significant flow to enter the Barooga Cowal.

Local runoff flooding can impact isolated areas but generally does not result in in widespread inundation. 

At Tocumwal, Murray River flooding more broadly impacts the town beginning in the 2% AEP event, most notably through the localised depression through town.   The town levee system generally prevents ingress of Murray River floodwaters at the levees’ location up to and including the 1% AEP event, with inundation entering through other locations such as through the Barooga Cowal and from the broad Murray River floodplain downstream.  Local runoff flooding at Tocumwal impacts developed areas in events as frequent as the 2% AEP and impacts broad undeveloped areas to the north of town. 

The study has produced a range of outputs that will assist all stakeholders in understanding the current flood risk across the study area, enable future development planning to consider flood risk, assess and develop potential flood mitigation measures and inform emergency management planning (in collaboration with the NSW SES).

The below maps are at 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) which equates to 1 in 100 years.
Overland Flood Map(PDF, 10MB)    Riverine Flood Map(PDF, 9MB)

Appendix ABC(PDF, 207MB) | Appendix DEF(PDF, 384MB) | Appendix GHI(PDF, 123MB)

POP UP SESSIONS

We will be holding pop ups in the Tocumwal and Barooga Libraries to help answer any questions and provide any further information on the study. 
COME ALONG, ASK QUESTIONS & FIND OUT MORE!

The Have Your Say period ends at 5pm Monday, 20 January 2025.