Funding has been granted to formulate a masterplan for Muttama Creek in Cootamundra. The announcement of a $210,000 grant from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s Local Government Recovery Grant – NSW Severe Weather and Floods funding came late last week.
The funding will allow Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) to formulate a Muttama Creek Masterplan and undertake limited physical (pre-approved) clearing works.
A masterplan is a strategic document that outlines the vision for the future development of a particular area. It provides a framework for guiding decisions about land use, infrastructure, and community amenities. The masterplan will incorporate information from the Cootamundra Flood Study, and the Chain of Ponds study undertaken several years ago. The Muttama Creek Masterplan will be required for CGRC to seek further funding in the future for flood mitigation and enhancement of the Muttama Creek area.
The formulating of the Muttama Creek Masterplan will include community consultation and be realistic about what can be achieved when a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is undertaken. This extensive analysis is undertaken to identify and tackle the potential environmental impacts of an activity or project. An REF plays a crucial role in promoting and ensuring the implementation of environmentally responsible projects.
The funding will allow CGRC to continue with work on removing exotic vegetation from the creek and desilting around structures such as bridges and causeways. Council has consent to clean areas 10 metres downstream and upstream from Council assets crossing the creek.
CGRC mayor Cr Abb McAlister welcomed the news.
“The community concern is palpable around the Muttama Creek issue; people are anxious about future flooding events and are troubled about the state of the creek in general. Council has been actively seeking funding to formulate a masterplan. This is the first step needed to address issues, the masterplan will identify what we can do with the creek, what we can’t do, it will be the driver in seeking future funding and recognising the communities’ aspirations and environmental responsibilities,” Cr McAlister said.
Picture and caption:
Funding has been secured to formulate a masterplan for Muttama Creek and will allow work on removing exotics and desilting around council assets to continue.
