Maitland councillors are expected to adopt the Hunter River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The study has recommended that council and Roads and Maritime Services begin work on a ­feasibility study for a high-level flood evacuation route from the city, as a high priority.

While the feasibility studies for the proposed routes need to take place to determine costs, a report to Maitland councillors has identified two preferred options.

The first would be to realign The Long Bridge, near Maitland Hospital, to create a more direct connection to the intersection of High Street and Belmore Road.

The second would be upgrades to The Long Bridge, without realigning it.

The mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, said The Long Bridge was a vital piece of infrastructure for flood evacuations.

“The Long Bridge has proven itself,” he said. “It’s important that we maintain it in the event that there is another flood.

“We [council] have an obligation to ensure everything is sound and working as it should be.”

The RMS, Office of Environment and Heritage, and State Emergency Service have agreed, in principle, to support the ­feasibility study.

Council is expected to contribute about $83,000 to the study, which is expected to cost about $250,000.

Community consultation will also be part of the process.

During the past year, the Floodplain Risk Management Study has received public submissions and forums have been held as part of the document’s development.

The Mercury reported last November, when the draft report was released to the ­public, there could be dire consequences if central Maitland’s population continued to rise without evacuation routes being improved.

In his report to councillors tabled this week, urban growth manager Ian Shillington noted that an increasing population in central Maitland would also provide the chance to redevelop and construct more resilient buildings that could withstand large floods.