Several homeowners at Lake Conjola will be invited to consider opting-in to be part of a NSW Government enabled Voluntary House Raising Scheme (VHRS) to help reduce flood damage to properties.
At last night’s meeting, Council resolved to engage up to 45 property owners living in low-lying areas of the town, to discuss raising their homes to the Flood Planning Level.
“There has been significant focus on opening the entrance of Lake Conjola to help manage flood risk however, we know that homes in the area can still flood when the lake is open to the sea,” said Mayor Patricia White.
“I know this has caused anxiety for residents in the area, particularly during periods of sustained or heavy rainfall. A Voluntary House Raising Scheme co-funded by the NSW Government presents an opportunity to address the underlying issue of low-lying development,” Cr White said.
“I encourage eligible residents to consider the benefits of the scheme and whether it might work for their families,” she said.
Council investigated the potential for a VHRS in accordance with a measure outlined in the Lake Conjola Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2013), to reduce flood damage to existing low-lying residential properties.
A Lake Conjola Voluntary House Raising Scoping Study (2025) was completed recently using floor level survey data obtained as part of the Shoalhaven LGA Floor Level Survey for Flood Planning (2024) project.
The study identified several properties which are potentially eligible for voluntary house raising. They have been prioritised into the below three categories.
Twelve properties were identified in Tier 1, eight were identified in Tier 2 and 25 properties were identified in Tier 3.
Tier 1 (highest risk – most benefit)
Tier 2 (moderate risk – medium benefit)
Tier 3 (lower risk – some benefit).
The study found that Tier 1 properties were single storey dwellings with an existing floor level significantly lower than the Flood Planning Level for Lake Conjola. These properties were also identified as having experienced flooding more frequently than other homes in the area and have been constructed in such a way that floor raising would be practical.
Council has sought access to grant funding from the NSW Floodplain Management Program to assist in raising up to 12 properties. The results of the application are expected later this year.
If successful, the grant would cover two-thirds of the cost of raising the properties, while landowners who chose to opt-in would be required to pay for one-third of the cost. There would be no financial contribution from Council’s general funds.
