Griffith City Council says it is working closely with all relevant agencies to manage the impacts on the drainage system in and around Griffith and the villages in the local government area.
“Council has protocols in place to manage water flows of the Mirrool Creek drainage network within the Griffith LGA. Council is working with all relevant agencies and initiating these protocols as required,” said Griffith Mayor, Doug Curran.
“The heavy rainfall we have experienced has not been as severe in the upper catchment of the Mirrool Creek system. This has helped Council and agencies to better manage the stormwater flows through the system.”
The Mayor said relevant agencies had been meeting on a regular basis to monitor the situation and manage the flow of water.
“To this end, [Thursday] afternoon a decision was taken by the NSW SES to direct Murrumbidgee Irrigation to undertake a controlled breach of the Barren Box infrastructure,” said Mayor Curran.
This action will direct flows down through a Supplementary Outfall Channel across Bringagee Road into the lower western Floodplain Catchment, he said.
“This will allow excess water currently within the Griffith LGA drainage network to more freely drain to the west. This will assist in lowering the main drainage system (Main Drain J), therefore providing further relief to Hanwood and other affected drainage networks.”
“The agencies are on notice to quickly enact protocols if there is more rainfall than predicted in our catchment,” the Mayor said.
