Council & Business
5 August, 2025
Flood overlays to be more transparent
The flood risk of over 5600 properties will be more transparent following Central Goldfields Shire Council’s proposed update to flood-related planning overlays across Maryborough and surrounding townships.
At the July council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to implement the findings of recent flood studies to ensure land use and development decisions reflect local circumstances.
The proposed planning scheme amendment is intended to guide future development, not impact existing homeowners, so land least affected by floods is used and works are built in a flood resilient way.
The amendment, informed by the Central Goldfields Entire Mapping Project and the Maryborough Flood Study, will show areas of high, medium, and urban overland flood risk across Maryborough, Talbot, Timor, Bowenvale, Bealiba, Moliagul, Bet Bet, and surrounding rural areas.
Flood overlay mapping for Carisbrook and Dunolly has already been implemented as a part of amendments in 2021.
Beyond council’s obligations under Victorian legislation to appropriately plan for and manage flood risk flood overlays offer advantages to future and existing land owners.
According to the report, flood overlays signal what areas are flood prone so residents can make informed choices and plan for flood resilience.
“Planning overlays are an efficient and effective type of flood mitigation which applies a precautionary measure to ensure that property owners are informed about flood risks and may develop their properties accordingly,” the report read.
While the report predicts there will be an increase in construction costs to meet any permit conditions under the overlay it expects this to be offset by a reduction in flood damage.
“In the long term, this amendment is expected to deliver positive environmental, social, and financial impacts by reducing the impact of flooding on developments and the environment,” the report read.
Central Goldfields Shire CEO Peter Harriott will now seek consent from the Minister for Planning to prepare this draft amendment and undertake community consultation.