The Korong Vale community is being invited to help protect their town and surrounding area from future flooding,

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Loddon Shire Council, and Victorian State Emergency Service have begun work on the Draft Korong Vale Flood Study.

The study will use modelling tools to define the flood risk in the town, produce detailed visual representations of a range of potential flood events, and investigate a range of measures to manage and mitigate flood risk.

North Central CMA Waterways and Floodplain Officer Owen Hayden said the local community can play an important role in developing the study.

“We want the community to contribute their local knowledge and experiences about floods in the area,” he said.

“Local knowledge is essential to the study and will be used to ensure the flood models provide a good representation of the flood risk in Korong Vale.”

Loddon Shire Council Mayor Dan Straub urged locals to get involved in the process.

“We encourage all community members to pop into the drop-in session, find out more about the project, and share your knowledge with the flood engineers,” he said.

“Council is appreciative of the funding provided by both the State and Commonwealth through the Risk and Resilience Grants Program, without their support this would not be possible.

“This has enabled the Korong Vale Flood Study that will provide a detailed picture of flood risk in Korong Vale and will give us the tools to help reduce and manage that risk.”

Locals will have two chances to have their say on the study.

There will also be a community drop-in session at Scully’s Korong Vale Hotel on 1 September, from 3pm to 5pm.

They can also fill in questionnaire either online at www.nccma.vic.gov.au or in person at the drop-in session.

“The drop-in session provides an opportunity to learn more about the study, and to share your experiences of flooding in the town,” My Hayden said.

“Specialists will provide information about the project, and community members are encouraged to bring along their photos of flooding and drainage issues to share.”