• The Bendigo Urban Flood Study (2013) is a joint project between North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) and City of Greater Bendigo (the City). It is the largest flood study undertaken outside urban Melbourne and has used the latest technology and methods to model the impact of flooding.

• Urban Bendigo has a long history of flooding, caused typically by intense thunderstorms and relatively small upstream catchments. However until now the City has only had outdated and patchy flood information to support development decisions.

• The project is now at the stage of including the new flood information in the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme to ensure future development considers flood risk.

• Planning Scheme Amendment C221 proposes two new Overlays:

• The LSIO already exists on some land in urban Bendigo. This amendment may change the area that the LSIO covers and will change it to either an LSIO1 or an LSIO2.

BENDIGO URBAN FLOOD STUDY PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT

Community Information Bulletin

The amendment is planned to take up to a year to complete. Please refer to the timeline below for progress so far and stages of the amendment.

MAY 2016

• The amendment also removes the Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 1 - Watercourse Protection (ESO1) from developed urban land adjacent to constructed creek channels.

• A Floodplain Development Plan has also been prepared to give guidance to landholders and applicants on how to develop safely in flood areas, eg guidelines on fences, earthworks, buildings, etc.

Key messages

Project steps

Public exhibition of amendmentWe are here

Flood Study adopted by Council Dec 2015

Panel held for outstanding submissions

Oct 2016

Amendment adopted by Council

March 2017

Flood Study landholder

consultation2014 - 2015

Planning Scheme Amendment prepared

April 2016

Submissions considered by Council

Aug 2016

Panel report received Dec 2016

Minister Approval

The Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO) is being applied to land affected by riverine flooding. •Schedule 1 (LSIO1) is flooding from creeks up to 350mm depth.•Schedule 2 (LSIO2) is flooding from creeks greater than 350mm depth. •Schedule 3 (LSIO3) is being applied to existing LSIO outside the flood study boundary. It is an administrative change only.

The Special Building Overlay (SBO) is being applied to land affected by stormwater flooding. •Schedule 1 (SBO1) is flooding where the capacity of stormwater drainage is exceeded. •Schedule 2 (SBO2) is land protected by the Bendigo Creek earthen levee.

What does an Overlay mean?An Overlay identifies an issue that needs to be considered when developing land; eg heritage, flooding, bushfire. An Overlay controls buildings and works and subdivision and may result in a planning permit being required.

What is a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO) and Special Building Overlay (SBO)?The LSIO is applied to land affected by riverine flooding, while the SBO is applied to land affected by stormwater flooding where the capacity of the urban stormwater system is exceeded. A key purpose of these Overlays is to ensure that buildings and works maintain the free passage and temporary storage of floodwaters, minimise flood damage, and not cause any significant rise in flood level or flow velocity.

What are the flooding Overlays based on?1% Average Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood extent, which means the flood level each year that has a 1% chance of occurring (this was previously referred to as a 1-in-100 year flood). This is a standard used across the industry for flood planning and management. The 1% AEP has been determined through the Bendigo Urban Flood Study.

What does it mean for me?The amendment will only affect you if you have land in one of the proposed Overlays. It is important that you look at the online maps to see if you are affected. The amendment then only affects you if you want to undertake buildings and works or subdivision on your property. A planning permit may be required depending on your proposal. The intent of the amendment is to encourage new buildings and works on land least affected by flooding and to ensure new development is designed to minimise damage from flooding.

More information available at: www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/flood

Do all buildings and works need a planning permit?No, there are a number of exemptions for minor works, as per the above table.

I am already affected by a LSIO on my property, what will the difference be with this amendment?In a general sense, not much, as the current LSIO already requires a planning permit for most buildings and works and for subdivision.

My place hasn’t flooded in years, why will it in the future?It cannot be assumed that flooding will not occur simply because there are no recollections of previous flooding at that property. The Overlays are based upon the 1% AEP and reflect the most accurate data that we have.

Are flood mitigation options being developed to reduce flooding?The City regularly considers potential flood/drainage mitigation options. The City has been spending approximately $4 million per annum on drainage projects to improve stormwater flows and reduce flooding. The City is also working with the Epsom Ascot Huntly Floodplain Management Advisory Group investigating flood mitigation options including management of the creek levee.

If I am in a flood Overlay will my insurance premiums increase?Insurance premiums are based on the most up to date available flood studies rather than the Planning Scheme controls. The insurance industry has its own National Flood database where this information is kept. In many cases insurance premiums will go down due to the availability of more reliable and accurate information, but of course in some cases where deep flooding is identified, premiums may go up. Reliable flood information can help ensure properties are not underinsured. For further information go to the Insurance Council of Australia website at www.ica.com.au

Amendment C221

Overlay Definition Referral Authority Planning Permit Requirements

LSIO1 Land affected by creek flooding up to 350mm depth for 1% Average Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood extent (see FAQ’s below for more detail)

NCCMA Permit required for buildings and works and subdivision.Exemption for minor works including extensions less than 40m2, replacement dwellings, agricultural buildings with permanent openings and sheds, open fences, small dams

LSIO2 Land affected by creek flooding over 350mm depth for 1% AEP

NCCMA Permit required for buildings and works and subdivision. Exemption for minor works including extensions less than 20m2, replacement dwellings, agricultural buildings with permanent openings, open fences

SBO1 Land affected by flooding from exceedance of the City stormwater system

Greater Bendigo City Council

Permit required for buildings and works and subdivision. State standard exemptions

SBO2 Land protected by earthen levee on Bendigo Creek with some overland flows

NCCMA Permit for buildings and works and subdivision.Exemption for minor works including extensions less than 40m2, agricultural buildings with permanent openings and sheds

What are the proposed Planning tools?

Frequently asked questions

More information available at: www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/flood

Flood risk mapping

*Please see online for more detailed maps

Bendigo Urban Flood Study, 2013

What happens next?All submissions received will be considered by the City and NCCMA. You may be contacted to further discuss your issue. Any submissions that can’t be mutually resolved will be referred to an independent planning panel appointed by the Minister for Planning. Submitters will have an opportunity to present to the panel.

The City invites you to attend any of the following information sessions. Staff from the City Planning and Engineering departments and the North Central Catchment Management Authority will be available to answer your questions. You do not need to RSVP and can drop in anytime between 4pm - 7pm.

Information sessions

Submissions must be provided in writing and include:

• Your name and address,

• The grounds on which the amendment is supported or opposed including any supporting evidence; and

• If opposed clearly indicate what changes (if any) you wish the City to make to the amendment.

Submissions are public documents and can be circulated to other parties. Submissions must be received by Thursday June 30, 2016 and can be submitted by:

• Filling out the online form at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/flood

• Emailing to flood@bendigo.vic.gov.au

• Posting to Bendigo Flood Study, PO Box 733, Bendigo 3552

City of Greater Bendigo Offices Lyttleton Terrace

Thursday June 2, 4pm to 7pm

Epsom Huntly Recreation ReserveTuesday May 31, 4pm to 7pm

Kangaroo Flat Senior Citizens CentreTuesday June 7, 4pm to 7pm

5434 6355flood@bendigo.vic.gov.au

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/floodThe City's Planning Offices 15 Hopetoun Street, Bendigo

Have your say

Visit us to find out more

All planning scheme documents, maps, flood reports and background information is available for viewing at:

Find out how your property is affected

The City has developed an online interactive map showing the proposed flood changes. You can

type in your address and find out whether your property is affected. Access the map

via: www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/flood