As part of its Major Overland Flood Flow Study, Edward River Council is now seeking input from residents.
A survey to gauge flash flooding experiences in now open.
Residents will also have a chance to provide feedback face-to-face at the first round of community consultations in Deniliquin on March 30.
These meetings will take place at Edward River Library, in Napier St, Deniliquin, from 2pm to 5pm.
Those attending in person are asked to complete their survey before the session.
Council has commissioned GRC Hydro to undertake the comprehensive overland flow flood study across Deniliquin and surrounding areas, marking the first assessment of its kind for the region.
It will look at localised flooding only, and not river flooding.
The project aims to better understand how flash flooding behaves and to improve future flood planning and risk management.
Unlike riverine flooding - which has its own dedicated study - this investigation focuses specifically on flooding caused by heavy, localised rainfall that exceeds the town’s drainage capacity.
With Deniliquin’s urban area shaped by natural low points that channel stormwater toward the Edward River, overland flow can result in rapid, unpredictable flooding during intense rain events.
This is what is commonly seen in Wood St south and central, Jameson St and Sloane St west - which were all impacted by heavy rain earlier this month.
The study was prompted in part by the major flash flooding event of November 2023.
Following significant riverine flooding in late 2022, Deniliquin residents were again hit by severe conditions when a burst of heavy, localised rain overwhelmed drainage systems, causing widespread road closures and property inundation.
GRC Hydro is now seeking detailed community accounts from that event, and from other flash flooding events, to support the development of accurate hydrologic and hydraulic models.
Residents are encouraged to share rainfall measurements, flood depth observations, photographs, and personal experiences.
The SES has already provided its official records, but the council stresses that local knowledge is vital for creating a complete and reliable picture of flood behaviour.
The information gathered as part of the study process will helps council plan safer development, inform emergency response strategies, and give communities clearer insight into their flood risks.
Until now, Deniliquin has not had a detailed study of overland flow, leaving gaps in understanding how flash flooding behaves across the township.
“Community participation is a key part of ensuring our models reflect what really happens on the ground,” council said.
“Local experiences help us identify trouble spots and improve our planning.”
Residents may have already received information and a QR code for the survey through a letter box drop. Both can also be accessed via the ‘Have Your Say’ section at www.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au.
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