Goulburn Mulwaree Council hopes for a smaller flood damage cost

Council general manager Warwick Bennett estimated the bill could be less than $2 million, compared with just over $7m each for flood damage in February and August, 2020.

"It is much more widespread flooding than the last two times - which were more localised - and the majority of damage was done to areas to areas that were affected last time and where repairs hadn't been undertaken yet," he said.

"I think we escaped pretty lightly compared to other areas and we're unaware of any private property damage."

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The council will again apply for state government disaster assistance once the extent of infrastructure damage is known. Assessment is still underway.

As with the last two deluges, Caoura Road at Tallong was badly hit. Emergency repairs have been undertaken to make it passable for vehicles. A report to the March 16 council meeting showed that $296,999 in road and drainage repairs had been carried out on Caoura Road using last year's disaster funding.

Mr Bennett said a section of Taralga Road was also badly affected in the recent flooding, which occurred over a week from March 18. Generally, the council area's northwest suffered the most damage.

Goulburn itself has registered 154mm for the month, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. From January to March 31, Goulburn received 334.7mm, which was well above the average.

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Mr Bennett expected it could be several months before a full assessment of damage was completed. This is then submitted to Transport for NSW for audit and approval.

The state government has already announced disaster funding for 63 local government areas in NSW, including Wingecarribee Shire and Queanbeyan Palerang in this area.

The assistance helps eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged, councils with clean-up and repair costs, provides freight subsidies for primary producers and grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

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Goulburn Mulwaree has not been declared for disaster assistance but Mr Bennett was confident the state funding would be forthcoming.

So far the council has undertaken $2.1m in repairs from last year's floods. It has $3.1m worth of restoration underway with more yet to commence.

Meantime, the majority of Goulburn's sporting fields have reopened following the recent rain.

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