Flooding

Most flooding in Australia follows days and nights of drenching, driving rain.

But, in parts of Wyong Shire, there's also another culprit: storms and big tides that affect Tuggerah Lakes.

Flooding that is sudden and unexpected is called flash flooding and is usually caused by short intense bursts of rainfalls that can develop into thunderstorms.

Smaller scale flooding can also occur when it rains over a few hours or days, and stormwater drains block or cannot cope with the amount of water.

An area which has not been flooded in the past is not excluded from the potential of being flooded in the future.

The Wyong Shire Local Government Area is located on a number of floodplains; therefore large parts of the shire are subject to flooding. Tuggerah Lakes is the largest floodplain in Wyong Shire, with almost 10,000 properties located in the floodplain.

Flooding can cause significant damage, both physical and emotional, so to protect Wyong Shire’s future livelihood, Council has a Floodplain Management Program.

History of flooding

Wyong Shire has experienced a number of large floods in the past century, including those in 1949, 1964, 1974, 1990, 2004 and 2007.

The June 2007 flood event is often referred to as the “Pasha Bulker storm”, and in Wyong Shire, there were approximately:

• 1,000 flooded homes
• 10,000 flooded properties
• 500 people needing rescue
• Four to five days of high flood waters in the Tuggerah Lakes

Who can help in a flood?

The State Emergency Service (SES) is responsible for responding to floods in NSW.

SES personnel will provide flood information, safety advice and arrange for the delivery of essential supplies to people isolated by floodwater. Where appropriate, the SES will conduct evacuations and undertake flood rescue.

As many homes, farms and businesses across NSW are susceptible to flooding, the SES has developed FloodSafe guides. These explain how to prepare for flooding and what to do when waters rise.

What is Council doing to prepare for flooding?

Council is undertaking studies to develop floodplain risk management plans for each catchment in Wyong Shire to help protect our residents from further flood damages, and minimise the flood risks to future developments. These studies are being carried out in accordance with the NSW Floodplain Development Manual and with support from the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.

Plans detail a wide range of structural and non-structural measures that can be used to protect against flooding. These may include;

• Voluntary House Raising
• Building development controls, for example, Council may set a particular floor level height for new buildings and extensions which is above a particular flood level
• Vegetation management, for example, stabilising a river bank by planting trees and keeping the river and creeks clear of obstructions.
• Construction of detention basins, for example, small dams to hold water which slowly drain.
• Community education and awareness campaigns about flooding.

The aim is to help ensure that Council can plan and manage the impact of flooding, and minimise the risks to the community before, during and after floods.

Lower Wyong River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan

The Lower Wyong River Floodplain Risk Management Plan was adopted by Council in October 2010.

The Study area comprises the floodplain of Wyong River downstream of Woodbury's Bridge on Alison Road to the area approximately 1.4kms upstream of the unction of Wyong River and Tuggerah Lakes. Beyond this, the existing flood planning levels are controlled by Tuggerah Lakes flooding. The floodplain extends over approximately 16 square kilometres.

The adopted Plan indicates floodplain management measures specific for the Lower Wyong River catchment, including land use planning measures, communication with the SES, maintenance of existing flood related infrastructure, publication of flood information for the public, and update of the technical studies.

• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - report (783.83 KB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 (244.89 KB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 1-2 (574.38 KB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 3-6 (3.98 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figure 7 (1.56 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 8-9 (2.66 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 10-11 (3.55 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figure 12 (1.82 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 13-14 (546.88 KB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 15-16 (3.36 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Figures 17-20 (1.25 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Appendix A-H (3.50 MB)
• Lower Wyong River Foodplain Risk Management Plan 2010 - Appendix I (989.98 KB)

Tuggerah Lakes  Floodplain Risk Management Study

The draft Tuggerah Lakes Floodplain Risk Management Study is on public exhibition until 11 April 2011.

Tuggerah Lakes catchment has over 5,000 located in the existing 1% AEP floodplain, which increases to more than 8,000 with the State Governments projected sea level rise planning benchmarks. As such, Council is considering a range of floodplain management measures to manage the existing and future flood risk to this area.

Community comments are sought, so that the Tuggerah Lakes Floodplain Risk Management Plan can be completed and adopted by Council.

Porters Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study

The  Porters Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study  was finalised  in October 2011.

The Porters Creek catchment is approximately 55 square kilometres, and covers the areas of Jilliby, Warnervale, Wadalba , Kanwal and Hamlyn Terrace. Woongarrah, Buttonderry and Hue Hue Creeks confluence at Porters Creek wetland, which drains to Wyong River. The catchment includes natural conservation areas, wetlands, rural, residential and commercial areas.

The study examines the flood hazards and identifies and compares various flood risk management options on the basis of socio-economic and environmental factors. Based on the assessment, consultation with community, Council and NSW State Government agencies' stakeholders, a number of flood risk managment options suitable for the Porters Creek catchment have been recommended for inclusion in the Floodplain Risk Managment Plan for catchment.

Accordingly the DRAFT Porters Creek Floodplain Risk Management Plan has been prepared based on the outcomes of the final study. The DRAFT Plan is now on Pubilc Exhibition until 3 February 2012

 

More information about Floodplain Management is available from the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water website

Contact Us

To obtain advice about flooding on a particular property, a  Flood and Coastal Hazards form needs to be submitted to Council. This can be obtained from the Forms section of this site.

This information includes;

• Whether a property is flood affected or not,
• Flood levels, 
• Minimum habitable floor height that are required,
• If the property is effected by climate change and sea level rise, and
• Any other enquiry that relates in any way to flooding