Music icons to deliver huge recovery concert

The subject arose at council’s monthly December meeting on Tuesday in Urana during a lengthy report on council’s management of the flooding and now mostly recovery from flooding work, across council assets and services.

Federation Council will meet with Corowa RSL Club as a matter of urgency to discuss various aspects including location of the event and disbursement of funds.

Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch referred to the significant nature of the floods and their impacts and said council has to be “on the front foot”.

“But where should the event be held?” he asked. “It’s a great concept but we’ve got to find out more about it.”

Cr Aaron Nicholls said, “we should step up. I support the concept of a concert. We should consider some kind of in-kind support and talk about the RSL Park.”

Cr Whitechurch referred to the widespread flood situation for the whole of Federation area.

“Had it gone on two days, could we have two different venues further afield and not just Corowa, possibly Oaklands Oval and John Foord Oval in Corowa, bringing it to more places. ”

Cr Gail Law referred to the substantial cost to council of the whole flood situation.

Whilst endorsing in-kind support she said that if council makes a financial contribution, it would be setting a precedent for other situations.

The report, by General Manager Adrian Butler and director development and environmental services

Susan Appleyard, sought council endorsement to increase the operating expenditure and operating income in the 22/23 Operational Plan, by an additional $2.7 million to manage the continuing emergency work required/being carried out on restoring council assets.

Council is eligible for a $1 million dollar State Government grant to aid in flood recovery. Further details of this program are being sought but it is understood that at least some portion of this grant is targeted at tourism activation.

Significant flooding began across the council area with minor flooding in September 2022 then additional moderate to major flooding in October and November with a total of three peaks. The November peaks cause the greatest impacts on council assets and communities.

“Over 80 per cent of the Federation Council rural road network was closed during the last flood peak in November and a number of roads are still under water,” Mr Butler said.

“Council staff and contractors have worked to open key transport routes to provide paths of travel through the council area and to ensure main bus routes and harvest routes were open.”

Mr Butler said the SES has undertaken a total of 84 rapid damage assessments in Corowa and Howlong up until 14 November 2022, with the following impacts:

•30 residential properties including caravan parks

•20 commercial properties impacted

•34 other properties impacted (majority being council Infrastructure).

•Other significant impact areas include:

•Corowa Civic Centre

•Lagoon and Corowa Foreshore area,

•Ball Park Caravan Park closure (loss of income) and damage/mitigation expenses such as

•removing cabins

•Corowa Aquatic Centre closures

•Major damage to the Corowa Golf Club course

•Other damage to community facilities including those belonging/being managed by sporting

•groups and other organisations,

•Urban yards, out buildings and fences

•Rural properties with impacts on various infrastructure such as fencing, pumps and farm

•structures.

“Council has now moved to the recovery phase and is working with Recovery NSW (formerly

Resilience NSW) to assist all those impacted by the flood events between September and December

2022,” Mr Butler said.

“The first community hub occurred, in Corowa, on Monday. This will be followed in the new year by hubs in the impacted towns and villages within the council area. These details are all being communicated to the community by council when arrangements are finalised.”

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Ms Appleyard said the first hub was well received by businesses and a few individuals.

The main areas of roads still being impacted by flood waters are in the Rennie/Savernake/Mulwala areas, with the water taking a long while to subside due to the natural geography of the area and

other constraints.

Council is continuing to compile asset data of the damage that occurred to the road network from the flooding, in order to submit funding proposals under the Natural Disaster framework.

Ball Park Caravan Park Corowa has been extensively cleaned, and the cabins were relocated back to their original positions on December 14, with the aim to be open just after Christmas for

cabins, and possibly earlier for powered sites.

The Corowa Civic Centre remains the most impacted of council’s built assets, with the building still

being required to be professionally cleaned and treated to manage issues associated with the water

infiltration to the lower floor. It is hoped the centre will be back in operation by February 2023.

Ball Park, Rowers Park, John Foord Oval and Lions Park in Corowa, Lions Park and Memorial Park

in Howlong, and other reserves within the northern villages were inundated by flood

waters during the three events.

Tree assessments have been undertaken for a number of sites and council officers have undertaken

assessments of structures and playground equipment and several sites have or will be open to the

public prior to Christmas.

The damage to the Corowa Foreshore lagoon area, predictably due to being underwater for so long,

is extensive. The risk to the public of falling trees is considered too great to allow the public (locals and tourists) open access to this area.

Pending the river being open to recreational use (SES decision), council will promote the boat ramp

at Lions Park South Corowa as the access point for boats for Corowa.