Sycamore Road Lake Albert residents support Wagga City Council's MOFFS

Sycamore Road residents Terry and Yvonne Ward said the water on their street was so high during the last major flood in 2010 they found a dead fish near their letterbox.

Occupants say they are hopeful council will implement a number of a flood-mitigation strategies identified in the draft Major Overland Flow Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (MOFFS).

It comes after council passed a planning proposal to rezone a block of land bound by Silverwood, Birch, Mitchell and Brunskill roads in Lake Albert to allow higher density residential lots.

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Sycamore Road resident John Eyles said he and his neighbours had no issue with more houses being built, but were concerned that additional stormwater would overwhelm an already overloaded and under-maintained drainage system in future flood events.

Mr Eyles said he would like to see council "put boots on the ground" to prepare the drainage infrastructure and extend the channel that runs parallel to Crooked Creek and becomes Sycamore Drain on its way to Marshalls Creek.

"The channel is too far to the west for it to pick up the majority of the water. So what it does is because it can't get into the lake quick enough, it turns back," he said.

"Additionally, that whole corridor needs to be cleaned, maybe reformed in places and so we think there is maintenance to be done up there."

Among residents' concerns is the maintenance of Sycamore Drain, which has fallen into overgrown disrepair because of an unusual bureaucratic hitch that means residents are responsible for its upkeep instead of council staff.

A council spokesman said taking back control of the drain would need to be the subject of a report to go to councillors for their consideration.

The spokesman also said any new development applications would be required to consider the current draft MOFFS in their design.

Council has identified the area as a flood prone "hotspot" in the MOFFS.

Under existing conditions, Crooked Creek is partially diverted into Lake Albert, with some flow continuing northwards through the suburb.

The MOFFS, which is on public exhibition until May 5, recommends a $500,000 augmentation of the creek diversion into the lake, and raising Lake Albert Road at an approximate cost of $1.9 million.

Council has applied for funding to complete a feasibility study into the report's recommendations.