Harcourt Flood Study

Harcourt Flood Study - next steps

The Harcourt Flood Study identifies 213 Harcourt properties that require additional protection under Victorian Government planning and building standards. In response we have drafted flood-related planning controls for Harcourt that will be applied through a proposed amendment to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme.

We are now accepting feedback or comments regarding draft Amendment C100malx. There are a number of ways to make a submission - check the options below.

Consultation closed Friday 7 June 2024

Look at the draft controls on a map

We've marked up the two proposed flood overlays on a map.

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FAQs

What does this mean for you and your property?

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Make an online submission

Answer the questions online now and click submit.

Consultation closed 7 June
Drop-in sessions

Come and see us at a drop-in session in Harcourt.

Consultation closed 7 June

High Street pedestrian bridge, photo by John Baldock

Flooded Barkers Creek, photographer unknown

Image credit: Colin Smith

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

24 May 2024

Drop-in session 1
Timeline item 2 - complete

29 May 2024

Drop-in session 2
Timeline item 3 - active

June - August 2024

Consider submissions
Timeline item 4 - incomplete

20 August 2024

Council meeting - determine next steps

Key information

The Harcourt Flood Study identifies 213 properties that are subject to flooding under the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP).

The AEP means there is a 1% chance of a flood occurring, or being exceeded, in any one year.

The 1% AEP is the Victorian Government standard to regulate and protect new developments through state planning and building systems.

As a result, Council proposes Amendment C100malx which would introduce new flood-related controls in the application of two flood overlays:

Floodway Overlay - Schedule 1 for land expected to experience severe flooding (flood waters above 0.5m; velocity and depth exceeds 0.4 m/s)
Land Subject to Inundation Overlay - Schedule 1 for all other land inundated in a 1% annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event.

The Harcourt Flood Study identifies over 213 properties that are likely to be affected by flooding in the future.

Properties likely to be impacted are near Barkers Creek in the Harcourt area.

The proposed new planning controls will affect each identified property differently.

Property owners have been sent a letter which outlines how the proposed changes could impact their property.

If you have not received a letter, it's likely the proposed changes do not affect your property. To be sure you can check the map, or contact Council's Strategic Planning team.

The Draft Planning Scheme Amendment will be presented for community consultation throughout the month of May and early June.
Everyone is encouraged to have their say on the proposed planning overlay changes for Draft Amendment C100malx.
Drop in session with agencies (including the NCCMA) will be available to discuss landowner concerns.
Council will compile a report with outcomes, and any landowner concerns, arising from the consultation period.
With concerns addressed, it is anticipated that by July Council will be asked to adopt the Harcourt Flood Study, note the outcomes of the consultation period, and endorse a request for the Minister for Planning and Transport to approve the draft planning scheme amendment.
The Minister for Planning and Transport will either decide to adopt to draft amendment, refuse the draft amendment or send the amendment to the Standing Advisory Committee for Regional Flood matters.

When in place the draft amendment will guide existing and future property owners and developers to develop their land according to flood risk, which may include the need for planning permits.

We we want to ensure our planning scheme acknowledges flood hazard and risk so that any future growth in Harcourt is sustainable.

We also do this work to make sure the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme is compliant with Victorian Government planning and building standards.

Council and the North Central Catchment Management Authority finalised the Harcourt Flood Study in early 2024.

The study identified flood risk for the area and was based on the following:

Historical information such as newspaper accounts and recorded peak flood levels.
Physical conditions such as ground contour information and aerial photography.
Computer modelling.
Local knowledge gathered through extensive community consultation.

Understanding which areas are affected by flooding is crucial to making informed decisions on how land should be used and developed, and planning for emergency preparedness and response.

Despite a history of flooding there are no existing flood controls within Harcourt and the Barkers Creek area.

These are the draft Mount Alexander Planning Scheme documents associated with the Draft Amendment c100malx.

The minor changes to policy have been highlighted in yellow.

Summary report of the Harcourt Flood Study

Draft explanatory report C100 Harcourt Flood Study Amendment

Draft Clause 72.03 30 May 2024

Draft Clause 74.02 03_74_02s30-May-2024

Draft Clause 72.08 03_72_03s30-May-2024

Draft Clause 02.03 03_02_02-May-2024

Floodway Overlay malx_44_03-s1

Land Subject to Inundation malx_44_04-s1

Who's listening?

Reach out on the details below if you need additional information or have any questions.

Name	Kesenya Moore, Strategic Planner
Phone	03 5471 1700
Email	k.moore@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Harcourt Flood Study

Harcourt Flood Study - next steps

Consultation closed Friday 7 June 2024

Look at the draft controls on a map

FAQs

Make an online submission

Drop-in sessions

Keep up to date