Lake Nillahcootie Flood Study report

Source: Bill Sykes Media Release - 10 Dec 08

The Lake Nillahcootie Flood Study report released yesterday confirms what local people have always maintained, that is, that Lake Nillahcootie significantly reduces the flood impacts on Benalla according to Bill Sykes, Nationals Member for Benalla.

Dr Sykes said, “The Lake Nillahcootie Flood Study report was commissioned as a result of on going community concerns about potentially increased flood risks to Benalla as a result of Lake Mokoan being decommissioned.

“I take my hat off to the Benalla & District Flood Awareness Group whose dogged persistence forced the Brumby Government to revisit unsubstantiated claims that Nillahcootie had a minimal role in reducing flood risk to Benalla.”

Dr Sykes continued, “I also congratulate Rob Swan from Cardno Lawson Treloar for some excellent work – albeit that I may not agree with all of the report’s conclusions.

“The key findings of the report are that

• even when full, Lake Nillahcootie significantly reduces (by 300-700) the number of houses flooded in Benalla in ‘1 in 100 year floods’ such as the October 1993 flood.

• when Lake Nillahcootie is 75% full there is a further 25% reduction in the number of houses flooded, that is, another 273.

“However, the report shows that in wet years it is difficult to lower Lake Nillahcootie, even when it was operated in conjunction with Lake Mokoan as originally proposed.

“It is critical that the Brumby Government supports a review of all options for lowering Lake Nillahcootie to 75% full in wet seasons as well as reviewing all other options for minimising the flood risk to Benalla and downstream.”

“At the same time, existing flood mitigation works involving clearing of vegetation and putting culverts under the railway embankment in Benalla must proceed immediately.

Dr Sykes concluded, “The Nillahcootie Flood Study report addresses one major local concern associated with the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan. It is now time for the Government to address the other major concern of providing security of water to irrigators who currently depend on Lake Mokoan.”