Council is embarking on three separate projects around Muttama Creek in Cootamundra.
The first project is a review of the Flood Warning System for Cootamundra. This project is one of the highest priority recommendations in the Cootamundra Floodplain Risk Management Study. Residents will recall the severe flooding from October 2022 and March 2023, and the lack of warning they had to respond to this flooding. Council has been successful in obtaining a grant to review the flood warning system and has appointed consultants Water Technology Pty Ltd to undertake this review.
Residents and ratepayers are invited to attend a community consultation drop-in centre to review the current flood warning system for Cootamundra and recommend improvements for subsequent implementation. The drop-in sessions will be held in the Stephen Ward rooms (at the Cootamundra Library) on Wednesday 13 August 2025 from 3pm to 6pm. The Flood Warning System is aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the flood warning system & reducing the risk to life & property within Cootamundra township.
The Flood Warning System Review will provide upfront, accurate, and timely flood warnings that are a key part of the community’s response to imminent flooding. The review and subsequent systems will include developing and issuing flood warnings including available flood mapping and rainfall and river data, the ability to predict flooding at certain locations, and how warnings are worded and sent out to communities in a way that best enables them to respond to flooding.
The second project is to prepare a feasibility study for works to improve flooding in Muttama Creek. Specifically, the study will evaluate options for a levee and a detention basin. This project is also grant funded and is a high priority recommendation of the Cootamundra Floodplain Risk Management Study. Council has appointed consultants Cumulus Engineering Pty Ltd to prepare the feasibility study. Whilst construction of any flood improvement infrastructure is unfunded and may be some years away, the important first step is to assess the options available to Council. Further information will be provided on this project over coming months.
The third project is the Muttama Creek Masterplan, currently being undertaken by Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) and Marten’s & Associates.
Further community consultation including online questionnaires and feedback will be rolling out over the next few months.
CGRC mayor Councillor Abb McAlister said he hoped people in Cootamundra would take up the opportunity to be involved.
“The issue of Muttama Creek in Cootamundra has been contentious and during flooding events caused significant damage. Council is taking a holistic approach to develop a complete Masterplan for the creek that will provide a long-term overview and plan for future management and development.
The drop-in sessions planned, and future surveys are the chance for the community to have a say, give feedback and be involved with the plan for Muttama Creek in Cootamundra,” Councillor McAlister said.
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Residents are invited to attend drop-in sessions for the Flood Warning System Review for Muttama Creek to be conducted on Wednesday 13 August 2025, in the Stephen Ward Rooms from 3pm to 6pm. The review will include developing and issuing flood warnings including available flood mapping and rainfall and river data.
