Council has completed new flood modelling of the Merri River catchment in South Warrnambool. The South Warrnambool Flood Investigation covers the area from Rutledges Cutting (in Moyne Shire) to the mouth of the Merri River, and upstream to the Princes Highway Bridge in Dennington. The new study updates and expands on the 2007 study.
The investigation has looked at the risks posed by large storm tide and riverine flood events and the worsening flood risk profile due to the effects of climate change. Updated knowledge on climate change-induced extreme events, sea level rise and storm tide flooding will enable more effective planning for South Warrnambool.
Ultimately, the investigation will result in an amendment to the Warrnambool Planning Scheme that will include revised flood mapping and land use controls. The investigation will also:
- assess the feasibility of establishing flood alerting/warning arrangements (including for significant storm tide events);
- provide reliable flood risk information for insurance purposes;
- provide flood mapping and intelligence products for the entire project area to inform and develop emergency response planning and build community flood resilience; and,
- assess the feasibility of structural flood mitigation works.
The Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is managing the project in conjunction with Warrnambool City Council, with detailed technical work being carried out by Venant Solutions.
The final report is available to read hereSouth Warrnambool Flood Study final report 2025.pdf.
Council understands that the completion of this important project has raised a variety of concerns in the affected communities and wants to ensure it understands these concerns prior to voting on the adoption of the Investigation.
Stakeholders are invited to consider the report and provide feedback on or before Friday, April 11.
Your comments can be provided via:
- email at planning@warrnambool.vic.gov.au
- post at P.O. Box 198, Warrnambool, Vic., 3280
- personal delivery at 25 Liebig St, Warrnambool, or
- telephone on (03) 5559 4800