Teesdale locals say Golden Plains Shire flood study embellished risk

Furious Teesdale residents say they could face financial ruin if a flood study commissioned by council is approved.

Residents say the risk of the Native Hut Creek (pictured) flooding their homes was greatly overstated by a study commissioned by council, potentially costing them thousands in insurance price hikes. Picture: Alan Barber

Furious Teesdale residents say a flood plain study commissioned by the Golden Plains Shire over-estimated flood risk to their properties, potentially raising insurance premiums by tens of thousands of dollars a year and leaving some homes uninsurable.

The original 2023 Teesdale Flood Risk Identification Study will now be reviewed by a state government panel, after councillors voted to refer the matter.

Resident Rick Lengyel, representing a group of residents, said the study grossly over-estimated the risk of flooding near Native Hut Creek and expanded the flood risk overlay zone to encompass dozens of homes that were previously unaffected.

In a desperate bid to have the study thrown out, the residents self-funded an independent report by expert floodwater engineer Mark Colegate.

Mr Colegate’s review found the original study was “not suitably accurate resulting in significant overestimation of flood flows within Native Hut Creek” and used data that was incorrect or inaccurate.

Native Hut Creek in Teesdale. Picture: Alan Barber

Mr Lengyel said, if approved, the original study could cause financial ruin for many residents.

“(It could have) a major crippling impact on many local residents and families … by putting us in possible financial ruin due to no longer being able to insure our homes, or if we can, at an estimated $30k to $40k a year,” he said.

“No one would be able to afford this, nor would we be able to sell our homes as they would be covered under the (study’s) flood water overlay.”

Mr Colegate said the firm contracted by council to complete the survey “adopted really conservative approaches to their modelling”.

“I’ve had clients whose policies have gone from two to twenty thousand dollars because of a survey’s claim about flood overlays,” he said.

“That’s why it’s important to get it right.”

Rick and Holly Lengyel (left) say the study could leave them out of pocket by thousands, and potentially even decimate the value of their home. Picture: Alan Barber

Golden Plains Shire councillors passed a motion at a council meeting on April 23 to refer both studies to a state government independent planning panel.

Cr Owen Sharkey told residents at the meeting the panel would review both reports and deliver a “professional opinion”

Former Cr Brett Cunningham said: “One of the reasons it needs to (go to the panel) is because the objectors have engaged an independent report outlining a number of concerns about the methodology employed”.

A council spokesman said the panel would interrogate the methodology and accuracy of both reports.

“Once the panel has prepared the report and provided it to Council, the panel report and its recommendation would be forwarded to a Council meeting for a decision on the Amendment,” he said.

Originally published as Teesdale locals say Golden Plains Shire flood study embellished risk