Floodplain Risk Management

Wollondilly has a number of areas subject to flooding. The Floodplain Development Manual sets out the management of flood risk in NSW. To receive flood information please complete the Application for Flood Information.

Floodplain Risk Management Committee

The process of managing flood risk is assisted by the Floodplain Risk Management Committee. The committee is made up of Councillors, Council Staff from a variety of areas across Council, NSW Government Agencies and Community representatives. The Committee has an advisory role and makes recommendations to Council for consideration. To read more about this committee visit the Floodplain Risk Management Committee page.

Wollondilly Shire Wide Flood Study

Thanks for sharing your local knowledge and experiences!

Wollondilly Shire Council is continuing work on a broad scale Wollondilly Flood Study that ranges from Warragamba and Silverdale to Yanderra, and Nattai to Appin, in an effort to better understand flooding across the Wollondilly Local Government Area.

Council has engaged Worley Consulting (formerly Advisian) to carry out the Flood Study, using latest topographic data, detailed flood modelling, and local knowledge.

Flood mapping is being produced to identify existing flood risk, and inform future floodplain management. Accurate mapping is a vital part of a Flood Study, and an important step towards developing a Flood Risk Management Study and Plan.

Consultation with the community – in 2020, 2022, and again in 2024 – has been very helpful as we ground truth the draft mapping. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

All Councils in NSW are undertaking flood studies and flood risk management plans to fulfil NSW Government requirements under the NSW Flood Prone Land Policy. This requires Councils to manage the existing flood risk with consideration given to the social, economic and environmental impacts of flooding for the short, medium and long term.

The broad scale Wollondilly Flood Study covers the eastern portion of Wollondilly Shire comprising 700 square kilometres. As well, Council has engaged Worley Consulting to produce mapping which is more detailed, of individual villages and towns including Appin, The Oaks, Tahmoor, Thirlmere, South Picton, Warragamba, Silverdale, Bargo and Yanderra.

Thank you as well to everyone who provided input on our Stonequarry Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan. This broad scale Wollondilly Flood Study, and the individual village studies, follow on from that process.

For more information about the draft Flood Study and the community engagement process please visit Your Say Wollondilly on https://www.yoursay.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/wollondilly-shire-wide-flood-study

Stonequarry Creek

Background

The area of Picton including the CBD has a long history of flooding due to its location within the Stonequarry Creek floodplain.

A number of flood studies have been completed on Stonequarry Creek, which look at possible flooding behaviour in the area and assist in identifying the appropriate controls for development to minimise flood risk.

Most recently, Council adopted The Stonequarry Creek (Picton) Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, together with the Stonequarry Creek (Picton) Flood Study Update in June 2020.

The risk management study looked into a total of 28 risk management options and the adopted plan recommended progressing 17 of those options.

Since adoption, Council has been actively progressing the recommended actions.