Last week, council was awarded the $100,000 grant for a detailed study into the potential construction of a high-level evacuation route for Central Maitland and Lorn. 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the feasibility study would ensure residents would be better protected from flood risks. 

“This project could make an enormous difference to the safety and security of the community should the worst happen, and a major flood affect these neighbourhoods,” he said.

“An evacuation route would literally offer people a lifeline as they wouldn’t be exposed to hazardous flood waters, and it would also reduce the demand on our dedicated State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, and other first responders.

“We need to look at what infrastructure is needed … It’s one of the fastest growing populations.

“We’ve identified Central Maitland as a growth area, so we see more people living in the CBD and that makes it even more of an imperative for having evacuation routes.” 

The funding from the state government’s Floodplain Grants Scheme was announced last Wednesday. 

“Our city has a unique relationship with the Hunter River and flooding, so this feasibility study is welcome news particularly for residents in Central Maitland and Lorn,” Maitland mayor Loretta Baker added.

“It will mean that our evacuation response to larger floods will be improved and that the serious risk to lives during severe flooding is lowered.”