Wagga businesses keep close eye on developing flood situation

Craig Harris felt the impact of the 2012 floods when 30cm of water flooded his shop for a week. The flooding cost the area at least $1 million, he said.

“I employ five people, they didn’t work for a week,” Mr Harris said. “There was no money coming in but the same amount going out.”

Two weeks ago, parts of Copland Street were closed due to floodwater and the State Emergency Service (SES) said people had been collecting sandbags just in case nearby Marshalls Creek flooded.

However, the biggest concern for Mr Harris was the large developments built since 2012. He claimed the Masters and McDonald’s sites, which were underwater in 2012, would push more water into businesses if there was a major flood.

“We had 30cm through here in 2012, it could be one metre next time,” he said. “We’re definitely concerned.”

A council spokesman said the applications referred to were both assessed in accordance with the relevant planning flood controls applicable at the time.

“The Masters development included the raising of levels to a one-in-100-year flood level, the impacts of which were assessed and determined by the Joint Regional Planning Panel as acceptable,” he said. “The McDonald’s development was built to the one-in-20-year flood level, plus a 500mm freeboard, which is the minimum requirement for commercial developments within the East Wagga Industrial Area.”

North Wagga publican Chris Tipping from the Black Swan Hotel said he was concerned about what next week would bring.

“We’ll wait and see what the SES has to say on Friday night, whether they enlighten us,” he said. “I saw a removalist’s truck on Henry Street yesterday so they might know something I don’t.”

Murrumbidgee SES incident controller Matt Chifley said there was no current threat to Wagga businesses.

“The local creeks are maintaining what they’re doing and with the rainfall we’re seeing they will decrease,” Mr Chifley said. “The Bureau of Meteorology said there will be more rain next week but they won’t quantify how much yet.”