Urban Stormwater Management Plan (USMP) Review & Implementation Plan 2025 - 2029

A review of the Urban Stormwater Management Plan 2017-2026 was undertaken over the past 12 months, with the aim to make conscious improvements to the way we manage our stormwater and provide for an updated 5-year implementation plan.

Click to view the current DRAFT Urban Stormwater Management Plan

The overall objectives of the review were to:

• Provide report cards on what worked well, and lessons learnt for previous completed projects.
• Undertake additional scoping works for the remaining projects of the existing plan.
• Recommend improvement works for existing Stormwater Treatment Devices
• Review available resources and recommend a new 5-year Implementation Plan.
• Allow for community feedback for the plan.

The USMP is funded via the Stormwater Management Service (SMS) charge that is applied to each household in the Urban areas of Lismore and Goonellabah and surrounding suburbs. Each year a total of approximately $400k is generated by the SMS and is allocated to various projects and management functions in accordance with an approved implementation plan.

Three (3) key items out of the new Implementation Plan include:

Post-Flood 2022 Opportunities to Improve Stormwater Function

Investigations following our largest flood in history have supported the communities call for additional spending on key infrastructure improvements and to focus our future efforts on ‘functionality’. A key inclusion in the new 5-year Implementation Plan is a program of CCTV camering and pro-active renewals of various stormwater infrastructure such as pipes at risk of collapse.

Priority Projects

For the existing Implementation Plan 2017-2026, there has been additional investigations and prioritisation. Key projects that are prioritised in the coming 5 years include the Browns Creek Naturalisation (up to $2m), Zadoc Street to Bat Cave Rehabilitation (~$461,000), and the Lismore Golf Course Detention Basin (~$212,000). Other projects have been identified as a lower priority and will be considered for investigation, design and construction in a future Implementation Program post 2029.

Stormwater Treatment Device (STD) Improvement Program

A list of selected STD’s have been prioritised to receive some tender loving care to ensure they are working at their best capacity. The program will cost an estimated $400,000 over the coming 5 years with the high and medium prioritised in the first two years.

Where we are at:

• Thank you to those who have reported drainage issues to Council. A list of these reports dating back to 2021 was reviewed as part of this process to inform the plan.
• Key stakeholders in our community (such as Lismore Drains Community Action Group) were identified and provided a high level of feedback to inform the plan.
• Feedback recieved from community members who are representative of the urban stormwater catchment areas.
• Collaboration between Council teams to identify problem areas, maintenance and future works.

Drainage and stormwater management is notably important to our community. Lismore City Council would appreciate community feedback on the attached DRAFT USMP document.

If you would like to have your say, please do so via:

📋 The online form here

📧 Email to council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

🖊️ In writing delivered to the Corporate Centre at 43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah or posted to PO BOX 23A, Lismore NSW 2480

Background:

In 2016, Lismore City Council adopted the Lismore Urban Stormwater Management Plan (USMP). Using fees collected from the residents within the urban suburbs of Lismore, the USMP aims to address priority issues to improve urban stormwater quality and reduce nuisance stormwater flooding resulting from rainfall and runoff from urban areas. It details the implementation of capital and renewal projects, maintenance of stormwater assets such as litter collection devices and a range of administrative procedures and processes resulting in significant improvements to both water ‘quantity’, and ‘quality’ outcomes.

The USMP is currently entering the second half of its life (2017 to 2026), and a review is now underway to look back on the success and failures of the plan, to look at areas to be improved, and to include new reported issues to address.

Stormwater improvements are proposed in locations that will maximise the environmental, social and economic benefits to the community. The aim is to deliver the greatest benefit to the community at least cost.

Important to note, the plan is NOT aimed at reducing riverine flooding, as this is influenced by factors beyond the immediate urban areas.