Hibbard Floodway Investigation

Council has engaged engineering consultants Advisian to undertake a detailed flood study update and to prepare a local Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for the Hibbard Precinct.

The primary goal of the Hibbard Precinct Flood Study is to define the extent of the floodway at a local scale, as well as to undertake a detailed investigation to assess options for maintaining the floodway into the future and for mitigating impacts associated with its adoption on affected landowners.

The Hibbard Precinct is located 2 km downstream of the confluence of the Hastings and Maria Rivers. The upstream catchment has an area of 3600 km² and is prone to flooding.

During large floods, floodwaters will overtop the banks of the Hastings River leading to inundation of residential and commercial properties. The last major flood occurred in March 1978 and led to widespread damage. Properties along Hastings River Drive, Tuffins Lane, Boundary Street and Hibbard Drive are some of those within the Hibbard Precinct at risk. These roads are also at risk of overtopping leading to difficulties in evacuating the community to flood free land to the east. The 2013 flood whilst causing damage and inconvenience was considered to be a minor event.

Currently adopted Hydraulic Category Mapping (as defined by the Hastings River Floodplain Risk Management Study 2012)

Floodway analysis results based on refined flood model.

Proposed Hydraulic Category Mapping to be adopted (as defined by the Hibbard Precinct Flood Study 2019)

* Click on image above to open enlarged version in a new tab or window.

The existing flood hydraulic model (last modified for the Hastings River Flood Study Update 2018) was further refined to incorporate additional topographic detail and physical features across the Hibbard Precinct. The upgraded flood model was used to confirm the importance of the floodway and will be used to assess options for maintaining the flood function of this area of the floodplain when the stage 2 (options) assessment commences.

The new Flood Study has now progressed to a point where it can be placed on public exhibition for comment. The flood study has been drafted by an industry leading flood consultant and has been completed with input from the public, state government technical specialists and Council staff. The draft flood study has been endorsed by Council’s Coast, Estuary & Floodplain Advisory sub-committee. This endorsement is a reflection that the study has been completed to a high standard and is appropriate for exhibition to the community.

Council is now seeking input from the public on the Hibbard Floodway Investigation and encourages interested persons to make a submission either electronically (by completing the online survey form under the submission tab below) or by sending a hardcopy submission to Council by:

Email: council@pmhc.nsw.gov.au

Post: The General Manager
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
PO Box 84
Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Submissions close on 17 June 2019.