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The City of Whyalla's public consultation on its stormwater management plan (SMP) closes tomorrow (Thursday, March 28, 2019).
A SMP is a strategic planning document which aims to address existing stormwater problems within a catchment, or catchments, and identify opportunities for providing a range of benefits through a multi-objective planning process. This multi-objective planning includes consideration of flood risk, protection of water quality and opportunities for stormwater reuse.
There have been numerous occurrences of flooding within Whyalla, including those in November 2015 and September 2016. While heavy downpours have historically resulted in nuisance flooding within the city, there had been no detailed assessment of the flooding risk posed by varying rainfall events to clearly document the extent and severity of problem areas.
In response to this, Council, with financial support from the State and Federal Governments, has commissioned Tonkin Consulting to develop a Stormwater Management Plan for the City of Whyalla.
The document provides a clear understanding of the current issues and will enable Council to develop a consistent, sustainable, environmentally aware and integrated approach to stormwater management which will provide a framework to address priority drainage issues, integrate future development, land use and infrastructure planning across the city.
While largely driven by the need to address stormwater flooding within the city, Council are also keen to explore opportunities for integrated water management, including addressing the quality of water discharging to Spencer Gulf and potential reuse to augment Council’s existing non-potable irrigation scheme.
The SMP aims to:
* Clearly set out the objectives for managing stormwater in the city
* Identify actions (both structural and non-structural) to manage stormwater to achieve beneficial outcomes and meet the specified objectives
* Provide a justification for any proposed catchment studies, works, measures or actions
* Provide an initial estimate of capital and recurrent costs and assign priorities and timeframes to each of the actions
* Define the obligations of the relevant parties in funding, implementing and communicating the plan.
Feedback
Feedback on the draft SMP can be provided (until 28 March 2019) via the following:
* Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HNTJ9DV
* The public consultation webpage: http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/publicconsultation
* Through email to council@whyalla.sa.gov.au
* In writing to PO Box 126, Whyalla SA 5600
Documentation
The full document outlining the SMP can be found at https://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=730&c=55619
Enquiries
For further information email council on council@whyalla.sa.gov.au or call Project Engineer Tim Bayly on 8640 3444.