THE Wimmera Catchment Management Authority will launch a new interactive flood mapping tool for the Halls Gap community as part of a review into floods.
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Staff will visit Halls Gap on Wednesday to present a draft map showing water depths during a flood similar in size to January 2011.
Staff will also demonstrate how to use the online tool during a community meeting at the Halls Gap Recreation Reserve.
The map uses information gathered about flooding in Halls Gap as part of a review into the town’s 2008 flood investigation and of major floods in 2010 and 2011.
Wimmera CMA chief executive David Brennan said the technology allowed people to zoom into individual locations to view flood depths and provide comment about whether the map matched their flooding experience.
“We’re very excited to have access to such sophisticated mapping technology via Water Technology, who are working with a Halls Gap flood review steering committee on this project,” he said.
“Halls Gap being a tourist town has many holiday home owners living a long way away, and are therefore unable to attend the community meetings to share their flooding experiences.
“This mapping tool gives them an opportunity to zoom into their home and see if the flood mapping data we’ve used matches what has happened at their property during the January 2011 flood and provide specific comments.”
Mr Brennan said in light of landscape changes at Halls Gap since 2008, plus significant improvements in flood mapping technology, now was an ideal time for the review.
“This focus of this review is to gather more accurate and up to date information to help emergency services and other flood agencies with land use planning,” he said.
“Information from the community is vital in ensuring the data that goes into building these maps is as accurate as possible.”
The Grampians tourist town has undergone significant residential and accommodation development since 2008.
Bushfires in the Grampians National Park, including one in January 2014, have effected vegetation growth that has the potential to change water runoff rates and flow directions.
The steep terrain of the Halls Gap catchment contributes to significant runoff and flash flooding, even in minor rainfall events.
The town has experienced significant floods in 1946, 1992, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2010 and 2011.
