“Some of our members have serious doubts about whether buildings and paddocks that were thought to be safe might be inundated again, and they’re wondering whether they should rebuild a shed or repair a roadway if it might simply be destroyed again,” he said.

He said as communities were still trying to pick up the pieces “many months on”, farming businesses were facing real challenges to future productivity due to the uncertainty created by the unexpected flows of water. Mr Martin said NSW Farmers supported Water Minister Rose Jackson’s call for improved modelling of water flows, but that a more extensive review of public and private works was needed to “get to the bottom of what went on and “more importantly understand how to prevent future flood impacts”.

“Levees, roadways or other structures built on the landscape alter the speed, depth and movement of floodwater, and we’re concerned that this is why we saw unexpected flooding that presented a real threat to lives.” “We’re concerned that floodwater went places it hadn’t previously gone, and a lot of my members are saying they think public and private ‘flood works’ may be a contributing factor,” he said. NSW Farmers’ Association president Xavier Martin said many had reported unprecedented damage from the floods, and that there needed to be a statewide review into floodplains and planning decisions “that may have exacerbated the problem”. READ ALSO ‘Disgrace’: Fears Wyangala Dam upgrade may be scrapped

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