Council secures multi-million-dollar flood protection funding

Published on 27 July 2022

Wingecarribee Shire Council has secured more than four and half million dollars from the Australian Government to assist in the construction of the Retford Farm Detention Basin.

The Retford Farm Detention Basin is a major component of the Bowral Floodplain Risk Management Strategy (FRMSP) first adopted by Council in 2009 and coincides with the public exhibition of Council’s draft Stormwater Management Policy.

“The Retford Farm Detention Basin will significantly reduce the impact of future flooding events on the Bowral township,” said Council’s Director Service and project Delivery, Karen Targa.

Located on the eastern side of Old South Road at the Merrigang Street intersection, the detention basin will store approximately 350 mega-litres (350 million litres) of stormwater during high rainfall events.

“It is estimated the detention basin will help minimise the occurrence of flooding in key areas across the township by up to 25 per cent,” Ms Targa added.

A total of $4.6 million dollars, which equates to 75 per cent of the total project’s construction costs, was secured via the Australian Government’s National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program. Council is investigating funding opportunities for the remainder of the project.

“We thank both the State Government for advocating on Council’s behalf and New South Wales Senator, Perin Davey, for securing these all-important Commonwealth funds.”

Construction on the two-year Retford Farm Detention Basin Project is scheduled to commence in 2023.