News

Council endorses flood risk management team

By Yarrawonga Chronicle

Aug 27, 2025

The north gates of the Yarrawonga Weir which remain open to allow flood water relief upstream. Photo: Rob Alexander.

Four Mulwala residents are among those endorsed by Federation Council this week to form the new Corowa, Howlong and Mulwala Flood Risk Management Committee.

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The committee comprises council management, engineering and planning staff, state government agency and community representatives to review and guide on the development of the Flood Risk Management Plan.

Mulwala resident Gary Lewis was an emergency management controller with the council during the 2022 floods and has extensive training in emergency management.

Mr Lewis was recommended to the committee for his knowledge of emergency management during flood events.

Vice president of Mulwala Water Ski Club and member of Save Mulwala Action Group (SMAG), Andrew Starr run a home design and building company and has lived in Mulwala for 52 years.

He was recommended as a primary SMAG representative due to his industry and local contacts for potential development impacts.

Also on SMAG, Graeme Hawthorne is a retired civil engineer who previously worked with Thiess on large scale design and construction of infrastructure projects.

Mr Hawthorne has lived in Mulwala since 2021 and is familiar with flood modelling as an input into civil design.

Farmer and RFS volunteer Douglas Thomas was recommended as an alternative representative for SMAG.

The final Mulwala representative is Lucas Purtle who has lived in Mulwala all his life.

He is an electrician and business owner, involved with the Mulwala Fire Brigade and local sporting groups.

Mr Purtle will represent the Mulwala Progress Association on the committee.

The committee is expected to meet six times during the course of the Flood Risk Management Study and Plan project.