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.

Flooding is often associated with inundation from large rivers; however, there are other flood mechanisms that can cause inundation. The Exile Bay catchment 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 (FRMS&P) 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 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 State Emergency Services (SES), and the community for effectively managing and mitigating flood risk.

For Council, FRMS&Ps are a planning tool for future development in the LGA and implementing flood mitigation measures for existing development areas.

Information from the FRMS&P will also assist the SES for flooding evacuation and logistics planning.

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.

The draft FRMP&S is now on public exhibition. You are invited to review the draft and provide feedback up until Thursday, 10 July 2025.

All submissions will be considered and the draft will be amended as appropriate before it is taken to the Flood Risk Management Committee for further feedback and to a Council meeting for finalisation.

Following this, Council will work to deliver flood mitigation measures outlined in the plan. The funding and timing of the mitigation measures will also be reliant on grant funded financial support from the NSW Government under the Floodplain Management Program - Implementation Stream.