Floodplain management grants awarded and project summaries

Funding for these projects came from the NSW Government Floodplain Management Program.

The Floodplain Management Program funded 65 projects totalling $9,956,299. 

Overview

Project details

Ballina Shire Council

Alstonville, Lennox Head and Wardell overland flood study

This project will develop a 2-dimensional hydraulic model of the urban areas of Alstonville, Lennox Head and Wardell to analyse and map local overland flooding extents. The flood study and extents mapping will be used to implement development controls, inform land-use planning, and identify feasible infrastructure upgrades and structural protection measures available to reduce the impacts of overland flooding to Alstonville, Lennox Head and Wardell.

Bayside Council

Mascot, Rosebery and Eastlakes flood study review

The Mascot, Rosebery and Eastlakes catchment includes the suburbs of Mascot, Rosebery, Eastlakes and Pagewood. This catchment is affected by overland flooding and mainstream flooding.

Flood modelling for this catchment was completed based on parameters available in 2013. Since then, LiDAR information, building footprints, roads, and rainfall guidelines have changed significantly. This project will review and update the current flood study based on the latest information.

Bega Valley Shire Council

Wolumla flood study and floodplain risk management plan

Wolumla Creek is a tributary of the Bega River. Two regional roads transit the Wolumla Creek catchment. Detailed flood information is needed for emergency response and infrastructure planning.

An overland flow study covering the township of Wolumla will provide information on flood risk. The study area will encompass the Wolumla Creek catchment focusing on the localities of Wolumla, South Wolumla and Frog's Hollow.

The floodplain risk management plan will provide the council with some definitive actions to manage the flood risk within the catchment and deliver information to inform the council's future land-use and emergency response planning.

Blacktown City Council

Eastern Creek floodplain risk management study and plan

The Eastern Creek lower catchment comprises large areas significantly impacted by the Hawkesbury Nepean flooding. This area is of significant importance because it includes the North West growth area, the Western Sydney employment area and the Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek investigation area.

A floodplain risk management study and plan are the next steps for the Eastern Creek catchment, following the completion of the Eastern Creek flood study in 2019. This project will investigate a suite of flood management measures and evaluate options that could be implemented to manage the existing, future and continuing flood risk.

Broken Hill City Council

Broken Hill flood study

This project will complete a flood study of the Broken Hill local government area to determine and define the overall flood risk to the community. The flood risk will be identified through the development of a state-of-the-art flood model that will be used to determine:

• the degree of hazard the community is exposed to
• the scale of the population at risk
• gaps in flood information needed to manage flooding
• the potential need for flood mitigation works to reduce risks to the community in the area
• the potential for redevelopment and new development.

Byron Shire Council

Belongil and Tallow flood risk management study and plan update

The Belongil and Tallow Creek floodplain risk management study and plan are more than 5-years old and require updating, due to the development pressure in these catchments and recent flood events. This project will update the floodplain risk management study and plan to align them with current Australian standards.

Byron Shire overland flow path study

This project will undertake shire-wide overland flow path flooding and drainage studies to identify and prioritise flooding and drainage improvement mitigation upgrade works for the shire. The project will identify and prioritise potential mitigation works with the highest benefit-cost ratio to aid strategic land-use planning.

Camden Council

Investigation and design for building a levee from Saunders Road and along McCrae Drive

The draft Nepean River floodplain risk management plan recommends a flood protection levee west of McCrae Drive from Saunders Avenue to Cunningham Place as a high-ranked flood management measure for the Nepean River catchment. This project will investigate whether the proposed levee is a viable option to reduce flood levels for properties along McCrae Drive.

Update Nepean River flood study to include precinct development and urban land release

This project will update the Nepean River flood study to include changes in the catchment, such as precinct development and urban land release. The Nepean River flood study was based on LiDAR information captured in 2011, and there has been significant development in the catchment since then. The study will assess the cumulative impact of development on flooding, to address this issue in emergency management and land-use planning. It will help to understand the flood behaviour and risk and provide up-to-date flood information to the public.

Carrathool Shire Council

Hillston eastern levee upgrade feasibility study

The current Hillston floodplain risk management study and plan highlight the benefit of restoring and upgrading the eastern levee at Hillston; this option would potentially protect up to 73 buildings from above floor-level flooding during a 1% annual exceedance probability flood event. This site is also the location of a proposed heavy vehicle bypass. A feasibility study to investigate the possibility of incorporating a dual levee and heavy vehicle bypass at this location will be undertaken as part of the project.

Central Coast Council

Somersby and Kariong catchments overland flood study

The overland flood study area consists of the Somersby and Kariong catchments. The catchments drain to the Hawkesbury River via Mooney Mooney Creek and other smaller tributaries. Council currently has very limited flooding information for these catchments. This study will produce a 2-dimensional hydraulic model and inform planning decisions about the growth in this area, which has been identified as a regionally significant growth area.

City of Canterbury Bankstown Council

Floodplain risk management study and plan for sub-catchments of the Duck River

Duck River is one of the major tributaries of the Parramatta River and drains water from 2 sub-catchments: Wolumba and Duck River. The total catchment area is approximately 9.17 square kilometres and will accommodate substantial growth and development over the coming years. Significant floods have occurred in the Duck River catchment, including in March 2022.

This project will undertake Australian rainfall and runoff 2019 sensitivity analyses for the 2 sub-catchments and prepare a consolidated floodplain risk management plan for the Duck River catchment.

Clarence Valley Council

Esk River flood monitoring project

This project will install a remotely monitored flood gauge in the Esk River on Iluka Road.

Iluka Road provides the only access to the town of Iluka, and flooding of the Esk River has caused the road to be closed on multiple occasions. Council relies on community reports to know when the road has been cut by floodwater. The flood gauge will enable the council to advise the Iluka community about road closures.

Coffs Harbour City Council

Bonville Creek flood study

The Bonville Creek catchment covers an area of approximately 115 square kilometres. Two major tributaries join Bonville and Pine creeks from the south, and Middle Creek from the north. The existing flood study for the catchment was completed in 1995. There is ongoing development pressure in the catchment. This study will provide up-to-date, detailed and accurate flood mapping. This will provide a sound base for implementing flood planning controls and better inform strategic plans for improving flood immunity.

Coonamble Shire Council

Coonamble stage 4a levee – high bank stabilisation along Castlereagh River

This project will stabilise the high bank of the Coonamble levee adjacent to the Castlereagh River and the Sir Edward Hollstrom Bridge using oversized rock.

Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council

Cootamundra/Gundagai shire villages (Coolac, Nangus, Tumblong and Darbalara) flood study

This project will develop a wide-scale flood study encompassing the whole of the Cootamundra/Gundagai local government area of the Murrumbidgee River floodplain. This will be used to develop individual flood studies for the villages of Coolac, Nangus, Tumblong and Darbalara and inform water levels for the hydraulic models for these studies.

Council of the City of Parramatta

Final expansion project for the City of Parramatta FloodSmart flood warning service

FloodSmart Parramatta provides the community with a flood warning service, but it does not cover the entire local government area. This project will complete the coverage of this service. It will also develop an innovative, dynamic tidal boundary process to enable real-time forecasting of the impacts from the tidal Parramatta River. The work will deliver flood modelling and 3 new warning areas, which will be operationalised within FloodSmart Parramatta.

Cumberland City Council

Duck Creek and Duck River overland flow study

An overland flood study for Duck River will complement other catchment overland flow studies that the council has undertaken.

This study will identify the properties within the Duck River catchment affected by overland flow, to enable actions to reduce the flooding impacts on human life and properties. The study will also ensure that residents are aware of the risks associated with flooding of their properties and will address these risks when residents are redeveloping their properties.

Eurobodalla Shire Council

Batemans Bay urban creeks floodplain risk management study and plan

The Batemans Bay urban creeks floodplain risk management study and plan will build on the outcomes of the adopted Batemans Bay urban creeks flood study and identify opportunities to mitigate and manage significant impacts of flooding. This will include climate adaptation strategies to manage inundation in the Batemans Bay area, consistent with the outcomes of the Eurobodalla open coast coastal management program.

Fairfield City Council

Bosnjak detention basin investigation and detailed design

The Bosnjak detention basin is located at Edensor Park; it has an upper and lower basin.

The Three Tributaries floodplain risk management study and plan identified that residual flooding could be removed by raising the lower basin wall to contain a one-in-100-year flood event.

Council will complete an investigation and design to determine the feasibility of the proposed detention basin upgrade options identified in the Three Tributaries floodplain risk management study and plan.

Federation Council

Federation villages flood warning system review

The floodplain risk management study and plan for Federation villages recommends that a project be undertaken to identify improvements to the flood warning system, to improve the current system for the villages of Boree Creek, Urana, Morundah and Rand.

All of these towns are located within the Billabong Creek catchment. Tributaries also impact, notably on Boree Creek, Urana and Morundah. An improved flood warning system will allow the town residents to prepare and respond in a manner which reflects the impending severity of flooding.

Morundah flood mitigation investigations, concept design and detailed design

The township of Morundah is subject to riverine flooding from Colombo Creek and major overland flow from local runoff. The previous flood study and floodplain risk management study and plan identified that 17 residential houses and 3 commercial/industrial buildings are flooded to above floor level in a 1% annual exceedance probability flood at Morundah. The floodplain risk management study and plan recommends a number of flood modification measures, including a levee improvement project, cross drainage culvert upgrades and an overland flow diversion bund. This project will undertake further investigations (including a levee structural integrity assessment), concept design and detailed design for these mitigation measures.

Urana and Boree Creek voluntary house raising/house purchase scoping study

The township of Urana is subject to riverine flooding from Urangeline Creek. The township of Boree Creek is subject to riverine flooding from Boree Creek. The Federation villages floodplain risk management study and plan identified that 26 houses at Urana and 34 houses at Boree Creek are flooded to above floor level in a 1% annual exceedance probability flood. The floodplain risk management study and plan recommends that a feasibility study investigate a voluntary house raising scheme for Boree Creek and a voluntary purchase scheme for both Boree Creek and Urana.

This project will assess the suitability of individual properties for inclusion in either a voluntary house raising or voluntary purchase scheme.

Urana levee upgrade – investigations, concept design and detailed design

The township of Urana is subject to riverine flooding from Urangeline Creek and Billabong Creek. The previous flood study report and floodplain risk management study and plan identified that 26 residential houses and 14 commercial/industrial buildings are flooded to above floor level in a 1% annual exceedance probability flood at Urana. The floodplain risk management study and plan recommends that the existing levee be extended and upgraded, consistent with current urban levee standards. This project will undertake further investigations to confirm potential impacts of the work and the levee alignment, and then progress to concept design and detailed design.

Georges River Council

Georges River Council flood risk overland flow study for former Kogarah Council

This project will undertake an overland flow study for the former Kogarah Council locale to assist Georges River Council, and the wider community in understanding the overland flood depths for various rainfall probabilities.

This work will inform future flood management studies and utilise 2-dimensional mathematical flood models.

Griffith City Council

Hanwood stormwater pump and levee – stage 1B construction

Hanwood stormwater pump and levee is a 2-stage project. Stage 1 involves constructing a stormwater water pump and associated drainage pipe network. Stage 2 involves constructing a levee and raising of the road.

This project will extend the stormwater pipe network along Kidman Way, Hanwood, to support the operation of a stormwater pump. This work will ensure the efficient transfer of flood flows away from the Hanwood community.

Gunnedah Shire Council

Review and update of Blackjack Creek flood study

Blackjack Creek drains south-west Gunnedah and runs west of the urban area through Wandobah Reserve, crossing the Oxley Highway and the Mungindi railway before discharging to the Namoi River.

The flood study for this area will be updated to consider changes that have occurred. The study will be revised to ensure flood modelling is current and will show the distribution, extent, levels and velocity of floodwaters.

Hornsby Shire Council

Hornsby Shire local government area rural areas flood study

This project will complete a flood study that covers all the rural areas within the Hornsby Shire local government area. This is required to ensure the Hornsby community is aware of the flood risk, and that any development and redevelopment of the rural properties are in accordance with the NSW Government's flood prone land policy.

Kempsey Shire Council

Kempsey central business district floodplain risk management plan – improved flood immunity investigation and design stage 3

Kempsey Shire Council will complete the investigation and design for upgrades to the central business district levee protection system. The upgrades were identified in the central business district floodplain risk management plan and include works related to the levee and flood gate improvements.

Upper (Central) Macleay flood study

This project will deliver the Central-Upper Macleay flood study. The study area extends along the Macleay River's from the Kempsey/Armidale boundary to the upper stream boundary of the Lower Macleay flood study project.

This project will provide valuable information to Kempsey Shire Council, landowners, State Emergency Services and Transport for NSW for current and future planning. It will improve key stakeholder knowledge about flooding in the central to upper catchment and evacuation route planning.

Ku-ring-gai Council

Lane Cove southern catchments flood study

Lane Cove southern catchments include the suburbs (or parts of) Killara, Lindfield and Roseville. This will be the sixth major catchment flood study undertaken for the Lane Cove River catchment area. This project will provide sufficient data for a flood risk management study and plan, which will guide future flood risk management actions for the study area.

Lake Macquarie City Council

North Creek and Warners Bay flood study

Lake Macquarie City Council will undertake a comprehensive review of North Creek flood study. Significant development in this catchment has had considerable effects on the floodplain and flood behaviour. A large part of residential/commercial/industrial zoned land in the catchment has been developed, with continuing population growth. There is pressure to increase density of developments and/or rezone further land for urban usage.

This comprehensive and updated flood study will incorporate new data from rainfall records and historic floods and use LiDAR to assist with calibration and modelling.

Liverpool City Council

Harris Creek flood study

This project will prepare a flood study for Harris Creek, a major tributary of the Georges River, which flows through Liverpool. Harris Creek crosses Heathcote Road at Holsworthy, the access road to Holsworthy Army Barrack, Holsworthy Station, residential areas, and access to the South Coast via Princes Highway.

The flood study will involve detailed hydrologic and hydraulic modelling and preparation of flood inundation maps, including flood level contours, flood risk and flood hazard maps. This will assist the council with floodplain management of the area. The study will also inform the Australian Defence Force, State Emergency Services and the Roads and Maritime Services in emergency management planning.

Lockhart Shire Council

The Rock flood study review

This project will review and revise the existing flood study to calibrate the flood model. It will use data from recent floods and consider Australian rainfall and runoff 2019 requirements.

MidCoast Council

Design of flood evacuation routes in Wingham

This project will complete the investigation, design and community consultation stages for upgrades to three primary evacuation routes used by many property owners in Wingham.

These measures address the recommendations made in the Wingham floodplain risk management plan, in which improving evacuation access is classified as a high priority strategy.

Gloucester caravan park access upgrade feasibility study

This project is a feasibility study to identify evacuation routes and road raising options for the caravan park in Gloucester, to provide flood free evacuations in a 1% annual exceedance probability flood. It will consider socioeconomic and environmental factors, flood impacts and community acceptance.

The feasibility study was classified as a high priority in the Gloucester floodplain risk management study and plan.

Post 2021 flood review of MidCoast floodplain risk management study and plan documents

This study will undertake post-flood reviews of all the floodplain risk management studies and plans across the MidCoast local government area, excluding the floodplain risk management study and plan for Bulahdelah, which is currently being reviewed in light of the March 2021 floods.

This review will include recommendations on triggers and response planning assistance for State Emergency Services, recommendations for flood warning systems, and consideration of all flood-affected properties for addition to the list for voluntary purchase and house raising.

Mosman Municipal Council

Mosman local government area flood study

The Mosman flood study will provide an understanding of flood risk for the entire Mosman local government area and will investigate flood behaviour for a range of flood events.

An integrated flood study will allow the council to evaluate the scale and severity of any flooding issues to inform flood risk management, emergency management and land-use planning decisions, and improve protection of people and property from flooding.

Murrumbidgee Council

Darlington Point floodplain management – final levee upgrade activities

This project will install a pump station to keep water levels below capacity in the stormwater retention basin at Ross Street, Darlington Point. This will mitigate flooding inside the upgraded levee structure during a flood event.

Nambucca Valley Council

Flood awareness signage

A high priority of this area's floodplain risk management plan is to increase community understanding of flood risk. This project will provide signage and markers to indicate historic and potential flood levels affecting the towns of Macksville and Bowraville. This will help the community make informed decisions about flood risk.

Narrabri Shire Council

Gwabegar flood study

Narrabri Shire Council will complete an in-depth flood study on the village of Gwabegar following flood events in 2021 and inundation of parts of the village.

This study will capture data for the village of Gwabegar and the surrounding area, to better understand flood behaviour and consequences in the area.

Penrith City Council

Blackwell Creek catchment flood study

The Blackwell Creek catchment partly covers the suburbs of St Clair, Erskine Park and Kemps Creek and discharges to South Creek upstream of M4 crossing.

A detailed flood study for the catchment will be undertaken to define the flood behaviour under existing catchment and floodplain conditions. It will use industry standard hydrologic and hydraulic modelling practices to define the flood behaviour. The project will also survey hydraulic structures, culverts, storm water drainage pits and pipes for flood modelling.

Byrnes Creek catchment flood mitigation work – detention basin and drainage investigation and detailed design

Byrnes Creek floodplain risk management study and plan recommends a series of flood mitigation measures to alleviate the flooding problem within the study area. Two of these measures include the construction of new stormwater drainage pipeline at Mamre Road and a new detention basin at Collins Street Reserve, St Marys. This project will complete a detailed investigation, prepare concept design plans, undertake environmental assessment, carry out community consultation and prepare detailed design plans ready for construction.

Chapman Gardens basin augmentation, Kingswood – detailed investigation and detailed design

The College, Orth and Werrington creeks floodplain risk management study and plan recommends augmentation of the Chapman Gardens basin in Kingswood. This will be part of a combined measure to provide greater attenuation of flows during more significant floods in the catchment and reduce overland flow flooding across critical flood evacuation routes.

This project will involve completing a detailed investigation, preparing concept design plans, undertaking environmental assessment, carrying out community consultation and preparing detailed design plans for construction.

Upper Byrnes Creek catchment overland flow flood study

This project will undertake a detailed local overland flow study for the Upper Byrnes Creek catchment and adjoining Ropes Creek. The study area comprises 5.4 square kilometres within St Clair and Erskine Park. It contains a number of overland flow paths. Flow from the catchment area contributes to Byrnes and Ropes creeks.

This study will define the flood behaviour under current floodplain conditions, and all potential flooding mechanisms will be included in the analysis of flood behaviour, including local overland flow and creek flooding. The adopted flood study will form the basis for future flood planning in the study area.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

Camden Haven flood study update and extension

This project will update the existing Camden Haven flood study with data captured following the March 2021 floods. This will include a calibration and validation exercise, to ensure the flood study is producing accurate data that reflects the best knowledge of flood behaviour in the catchment.

The project also proposes to extend the study area into previously unmodelled catchments that experienced severe flooding in March 2021. These areas have significant levels of development and currently rely on anecdotal flood intelligence to determine building floor levels.

The revised study will be used to inform an update to the Camden Haven floodplain risk management plan.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

Bungendore overflow channel

This project involves construction of an overflow channel on Turallo Creek in Bungendore. This measure allows floodwaters to bypass the Tarago Road bridge crossing of the creek during flood events.

The overflow channel will pass under Tarago Road, using culvert structure, and will provide flood storage during major events. This will decrease the flood impact on nearby properties.

Captains Flat flood warning system

For most residents in the Captains Flat township, the first warning of a flood is inundation of their property or loss of access along roadways.

This project will investigate and design a flood warning/alert system, tied to stream gauges in the Molonglo River, to provide advance warning to the community of impending flood events. Installation of a flood warning system is a recommendation from the Captains Flat flood risk mitigation plan.

Queanbeyan voluntary purchase and house raising feasibility study

This project will complete a feasibility study looking at the viability of voluntary purchase and house raising in the high hazard floodway area along the Queanbeyan River. The study is a recommendation of the Queanbeyan flood risk mitigation plan.

Randwick City Council

Clovelly floodplain risk management study and plan

The Clovelly catchment is a part of Waverley local government area flood study, which was completed in January 2021. The flood study identified 888 properties to be tagged as requiring future flood related development controls. It also identified that the flood risk in the catchment was mostly from overland flow.

The Clovelly floodplain risk management study will identify and assess a range of management options, both structural and non-structural, to reduce the risk of flooding within the catchment.

Lurline Bay, Matraville, Malabar, Yarra Bay flood risk management study and plan

This project will deliver the Lurline Bay, Matraville, Malabar, and Yarra Bay flood risk management study and plan. During periods of heavy rainfall across the study area, there is potential for the capacity of the stormwater system to be exceeded. Flooding across the study area may damage property and vehicles and pose a risk to life during large floods. The flood risk management study and plan will identify and assess a range of management options to reduce the risk of flooding in the catchment.

Shoalhaven City Council

Lower Shoalhaven River floodplain risk management study and plan review

The Lower Shoalhaven River catchment has records of significant flood damages and associated loss of lives. The current floodplain risk management study and plan was adopted in 2011. Since then, the topography and land use of the Lower Shoalhaven River floodplain has changed, partly due to new developments and rehabilitation of the Terara levee.

The recently completed flood study will form the basis of the floodplain risk management study and plan. The study and plan will include identifying and analysing flood risk and assessing management options.

Revision of Broughton Creek flood study

The flood study will investigate Broughton Creek and its tributaries that drain from the north and west of Berry to the Lower Shoalhaven River. In the past, flooding in the catchment has caused property damage and posed a hazard to residents. The current floodplain risk management study and plan was adopted in 2012. It predates 2 major upgrades of the Princes Highway, significant and ongoing urban expansion and the introduction of Australian rainfall and runoff 2019.

This project will provide a contemporary definition of flood behaviour in the Broughton Creek catchment, focusing on riverine and overland flooding. It will significantly increase the reliability of flood information for strategic land-use planning across the study area.

St Georges Basin floodplain risk management study and plan review

The St Georges Basin floodplain risk management study and plan will investigate and recommend actions to mitigate and manage current and future flood risks. This catchment has records of significant flood damages and associated loss of lives.

Council has completed the St Georges Basin flood study, based on the latest technology, survey information and the Australian rainfall and runoff 2019 methodology. The flood study will form the basis of the floodplain risk management study and plan, including identification and analysis of flood risk and assessment of management options.

Snowy Valleys Council

Tumbarumba flood study

This project will complete a comprehensive flood study for the Tumbarumba township, to identify and map areas at risk due to flooding from local creek systems. This study will enable the flood risks to be determined.

Sutherland Shire Council

Kurnell floodplain risk management study and plan

Kurnell is a low-lying residential suburb on the southern foreshore of Botany Bay, it has a history of overland flooding and tidal inundation. This project will update the 2009 flood study, based on current best practice and available data. It will also update the 2013 floodplain risk management study and plan, focusing on property and behaviour modification measures.

Tenterfield Shire Council

Tenterfield flood study updated

This project will update the existing flood study and the floodplain risk management study and plan to take into account flooding events in Tenterfield in 2019 and 2021 and the new Australian rainfall and runoff (2019) information.

Tweed Shire Council

Dorothy-William streets levee area pump station

Local stormwater flooding behind the Dorothy-William streets levee system in Murwillumbah affects private property, public infrastructure (sewer) and the use of community facilities. This flooding is associated with elevated river levels outside the levee, preventing stormwater from draining away. This is a common levee problem but is particularly pronounced in this area.

The Murwillumbah central business district levee and drainage study recommends installing a pump station behind the levee. This project will install the pump station to minimise private property damage, disruption of community facilities and environmental/amenity issues associated with sewer infiltration.

Wagga Wagga City Council

Humula and Mangoplah flood studies

The villages of Humula and Mangoplah are located on the banks of tributary creeks of the Murrumbidgee River. They are subject to flood risks from localised overland flows and swollen creeks bursting their banks.

These flood studies will produce information on flood levels, velocities, flows, and hydraulic and provisional hazard categories for a full range of flood events.

Waverley Council

Floodplain risk mitigation plan – Waverley Council

Waverley Council covers an area of 9 square kilometres. There are significant redevelopment pressures from planned high rise, commercial development and rebuilding of older houses.

This project will identify planning controls and capital works programs to protect property and the community from future flooding issues.

Wentworth Shire Council

Wentworth flood study

This project will produce a state-of-the-art flood study for Wentworth and the surrounding areas. It will cover the Darling River south of Ellerslie, the Murray River downstream of Trentham Cliffs and the Darling Anabranch River downstream of Tara Downs Station, through to Warrananga station on the Murray River.

Wollondilly Shire Council

Shire-wide flood study – additional detail studies

This project involves the detailed examination of flooding in specific areas: Tahmoor, The Oaks and Appin, to produce information for use in a floodplain risk management study. To complement this work, this project will undertake detailed studies for the urban portions of Bargo, Yanderra, Buxton, Thirlmere, South Picton, Oakdale, Mount Hunter, Warragamba and Silverdale, where an estimated 1,500 properties have now been identified as flood affected. This will produce information for floodplain risk management studies in the future.

Stonequarry Creek floodplain risk management plan – investigation of floodway Clearance and voluntary purchase

This project combines two actions from the adopted Stonequarry Creek (Picton) floodplain risk management plan to enhance the flood resilience of Picton central business district:

• a feasibility study for the potential removal of buildings to clear a floodway for the conveyance of water from Stonequarry Creek through the Picton central business district, to determine if it is a viable option
• the investigation of a potential voluntary purchase scheme for Picton.

Stonequarry Creek floodplain risk management plan – investigation of western basins viability

This project will complete a feasibility study for a potential detention basin on Stonequarry Creek west of Picton, to determine if a basin or combination of basins is viable. This is an action from the adopted Stonequarry Creek (Picton) floodplain risk management plan, which aims to enhance the flood resilience of the Picton central business district.

It is important to determine if the detention basin option is viable. This study will better inform the Picton community of the options available to address the flood risk in the area.

Wollongong City Council

Lake Illawarra flood study and floodplain risk management study and plan

Lake Illawarra is a shallow coastal lagoon located between the ocean and the cliffs of the Illawarra escarpment. The Lake Illawarra catchment has an area of approximately 270 square kilometres, rising from sea level to 760 metres at Mount Murray.

This project will update the previous flood study (2001) and floodplain risk management study and plan (2012) to account for new Australian rainfall and runoff information (2019), catchment details and entrance management updates.

This project is a joint project with Wollongong City and Shellharbour City councils as the catchment managers on the north and south side of the lake.

Funding for these projects came from the NSW Government Floodplain Management Program.

The Floodplain Management Program funded 50 projects totalling $10,036,980.

Overview