Moree Plains Shire Council will be looking at strategies to reduce the town's future flood risks, thanks to a $137,000 state government grant.
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Awarded through the NSW government's Floodplain Management Grants Program, the funding will be used to support the cost of a feasibility study to investigate implementing water management options included in council's latest flood management plan.
"This project will include a review of the northern floodway with modifications to the Gwydir floodplain management plan zone," Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said.
Mr Marshall said Moree's floodplains were some of its greatest assets, however, they did pose some challenges for the community in times of large rain events and flooding.
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"It might be dry as a bone now but the rains will come again and this grant will help Moree Plains Shire Council be prepared for when the clouds open and the next flood arrives," he said.
"The Mehi River runs through the heart of Moree and is no stranger to flooding, as we saw in 2011 and again in 2012, with floods which inundated the town for more than a day."
Once the feasibility study is completed, Mr Marshall will work with council to secure future funding to support any physical flood mitigation works.
"Moree is a centre of commerce for northern NSW and every effort needs to be taken to ensure when flood waters rise the town is not cut off," he said.
"The government is committed to funding important projects for local councils to assess flood risk and help reduce flood impacts on people, businesses and industry.
"We can never really make a community completely flood free, however I commend council and mayor Katrina Humphries for the work already undertaken to at least reduce the flood risk."
