Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) has released rural development guidelines on the construction of refuge mounds designed to assist the survival of livestock caught in floods.

A Primefact - Livestock flood refuge mounds - has been published to help local councils, applicants, developers and consultants design effective flood refuge mounds.

Author of the Primefact, I&I NSW Tocal based Resource Management Officer, Glenda Briggs, said flood refuges for were becoming increasingly important on coastal floodplains.

"The main reasons flood refuges for livestock need to be constructed are for animal welfare and an expected rise in the incidence and severity of coastal flood events as climate variability increases," she said.

"Filling rural land to construct a flood refuge generally requires council consent and this Primefact sets out the agricultural issues, impacts and recommendations for consent authorities to consider.

"Livestock flood refuge mounds provides information on potential consent and regulatory requirements, livestock issues, how to prepare for and manage flood events, and a series of checklists.

"Coastal plains livestock issues such as disease, feed and soils are covered in the Primefact, along with the impacts of subdivision, a range of flood preparedness options and methods of calculating the required mound size.

"The checklists provide a simple way to make sure that all important aspects are considered, both during refuge planning stages and when floods occur."

Ms Briggs said land owners or managers on both large and small rural holdings have a duty to take steps to protect the welfare of their livestock during these floods.

"In situations where stock are unable to reach refuge on suitable higher ground during floods, due to geography, fences, stress or condition, they could be being killed or injured," she said.

"Those that survive, or those on small pockets of higher ground, may also have inadequate access to feed or clean drinking water until the floodwater recedes.

"An approved, well-designed flood refuge mound can provide critical temporary refuge for livestock, but may not be suitable for all livestock or for all properties. "

Livestock flood refuge mounds and other Primefacts in the Rural Development Guidelines series are available at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/land

Media contact: Tom Braz 02 6391 3579, 0428 256 596