Council Explains Options in Relation to Levee Banks

1 September 2017

Council Explains Options in Relation to Levee Banks

Goondiwindi Regional Council has moved to explain and clarify its powers to regulate the construction and modification of levees in the region.

Goondiwindi Mayor Graeme Scheu said the Council was bound by State Government laws that effectively limited its powers to regulate levees.

He said the regulation of levees was very complex, with the law changed in 2014 to bring levee banks under the State planning regime.

“The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry recommended that levees be regulated consistently under State planning laws but that only covers new levees or existing levee banks that have been modified since the laws were passed on 16 May 2014,’’ he said.

“For existing levees where there has been no modification to the structure, no approval is required. This has affected the way Council goes around dealing with community concerns about levees.”

However, Cr Scheu said that while it seemed this meant some levee banks remained unregulated, other options to deal with the issue remained open to the community.

“It is important to remember that common law nuisance considerations between neighbours still apply here,’’ he said.

“I am very aware how much concern this has caused in the community and the Council has been careful to explore all of the options available to resolve the issue,’’ he said.

“However, we have no choice but to observe the planning law in this instance.’’

For further information, please contact:

Councillor Graeme Scheu
Mayor
Goondiwindi Regional Council
Mobile: 0427 718 877
Email: gscheu@grc.qld.gov.au