Have your say on Council's draft urban stormwater management plan
Published on 21 April 2026
Residents are encouraged to have their say on the document that will guide how Gannawarra Shire Council manages its urban stormwater network.
Developed to ensure Council complies with the Environmental Protection Act 2017 (Victoria), the draft Gannawarra Urban Stormwater Management Plan 2026–2036 will guide Council’s planning, prioritisation, delivery and reviewing of urban stormwater networks at Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Leitchville, Murrabit and Quambatook for the next 10 years, while remaining adaptable to changing risk, funding availability, climate conditions and growth pressures.
“Urban stormwater poses risks to human health, property, infrastructure and the environment, with these risks within the Gannawarra influenced by our flat topography, a reliance on pumped drainage systems, ageing infrastructure and proximity to environmentally sensitive waterways such as the Murray River, Gunbower Creek and the Kerang Lakes,” Mayor Garner Smith said.
“The draft Gannawarra Urban Stormwater Management Plan 2026–2036 aims to identify, prioritise and address stormwater risks through practical, achievable actions that improve system performance and long-term resilience.”
The draft plan features 16 municipal-wide actions that can be undertaken to improve urban stormwater maintenance across the Gannawarra, including the development of a proactive stormwater maintenance schedule for each township, and progressing a staged program to improve resilience of critical stormwater pump systems across the municipality, including remote monitoring, enhanced maintenance and contingency measures for power outages and pump failures.
Various actions are also listed for Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Leitchville, Murrabit and Quambatook, which feature local solutions to stormwater management.
“Council will lead and deliver the implementation of the improvements listed in the draft plan, which will be achieved through a combination of operational activities, capital works, planning controls, advocacy, partnerships and grant funding.” Mayor Smith said.
Residents can have their say on the draft Gannawarra Urban Stormwater Management Plan 2026–2036 by up to 5pm Thursday, 14 May in one of the following ways:
- By completing a Have Your Say form, available online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/yoursay or from Council’s Customer Service Centres at Cohuna and Kerang.
- By emailing council@gsc.vic.gov.au
- By writing to PO Box 287, Kerang VIC 3579.
- By phoning Council on (03) 5450 9333.
“All feedback received will assist with the development of the final version of Gannawarra Urban Stormwater Management Plan 2026–2036, which is to be presented to Council at a later date for approval,” Mayor Smith said.