The Floodplain Risk Management Program, managed by the NSW Government, helps Councils make informed decisions about managing flood risk, implementing management plans to reduce flood risk and to provide essential information to the SES to deal with flood emergencies.

which was adopted by Council in 2020.

Flooding is often associated with inundation from large rivers; however, there are other flood mechanisms that can cause inundation. Your area is primarily affected by two types of flooding; overland flow flooding and mainstream flooding.

Overland flow flooding occurs when rainfall flows toward creeks and channels.

Mainstream flooding occurs when large volumes of water in creeks and channels floods areas that are usually dry.

A Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan draws on the results of a Flood Study to identify, assess and compare various flood risk management options. It provides information and tools to assess the flood impacts of different management options and provides a plan for the implementation of the preferred options.

A FRMS&P draws on the results of the flood study to identify, assess and compare various flood risk management options. These options are aimed at improving the existing flood situation in your area. The FRMS&P provides information and tools to allow considered assessment of flood impacts of management options and provides a strategic plan for their implementation. Management options are typically categorised as property modification measures, response modification measures and flood modification measures.

A Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan provides key information for Council, the SES and the community for effectively managing and mitigating flood risk.

For Council, FRMS&P’s are a planning tool for future development in the LGA and implementing flood mitigation measures for existing development areas. Examples of applications for Council include:

• Identification and assessment of floodplain risk management measures for existing development areas aimed at reducing social, environmental and economic loss of flooding on development and the community; and
• Examination of Council’s local flood risk management policies, strategies and planning instruments.

Information from the FRMS&P will assist the SES in its evacuation and logistics planning. The outcomes of the study will provide the SES with:

• • a clear description of flood behaviour in the study area for a full range of flood events;
  • a description of flood warning times for your area; and
  • identification of critical evacuation issues in your area such as locations where road access is cut and the warning time before road access is cut.

The Exile Bay catchment covers a 3.5 square kilometre area with two key overland flow paths (the Main Southern Drain and the Central Drain) which meet at Saltwater Creek (adjacent to Massey Park Golf Club) and flows into the Parramatta River. These key features are shown in the map below.

Significant flood events occurred in your area in the early 1970s,1986 and 1988. Any information that the community can provide on historic flooding will be welcomed.