Hewitts Creek Catchment Flood Study

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Consultation has concluded

As part of our commitment to managing flood and stormwater in our region, we’re working on a flood study for the Hewitts Creek catchment. The updated Study explains the ways flooding happens in the Hewitts Creek catchment, which covers an area of around 8 square kilometres in Thirroul and Bulli.

We’ll be sharing the report with the community during the public exhibition from 9 September to 8 October 2019. Come along to our drop-in community information session where the floodplain engineers working on the Study will be available to answer your questions. There’s no formal presentation as such. Instead, we’ll have the report available for viewing, display stands showing flood mitigation projects, flood modelling maps and a short flood modelling video to help explain how and where it can flood in this catchment. This is a drop-in session, so you can come in at any time.

When: Wednesday 18 September 2019, drop in anytime between 4pm - 6pm
Where: Bulli Senior Citizens Centre, 8 Hospital Rd, Bulli

If you’d like to attend and have accessibility or mobility requirements, or need an interpreter, please contact us to let us know how we can support your attendance.

If you’d like to learn more but are unable to attend a session, the report will also be available to view at Thirroul Library until Tuesday 8 October, with copies of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), feedback forms and reply-paid envelopes available.

Read the FAQ, draft report and have a look at the Floodplain Risk Management Process diagram to learn more about the Study, how we manage flood risk and what we will use the flood study information for, then share your feedback online with the project team.

Following our conversations with the community, the Hewitts Creek Flood Study will go to Council for adoption. After that, we can start working on a Floodplain Risk Management Study that looks at what the risks and damages from floods might be, and what we could do to mitigate (reduce) those risks. We’ll again be inviting the community to contribute to that process when the time comes.

Feedback closes on 8 October 2019.

As part of our commitment to managing flood and stormwater in our region, we’re working on a flood study for the Hewitts Creek catchment. The updated Study explains the ways flooding happens in the Hewitts Creek catchment, which covers an area of around 8 square kilometres in Thirroul and Bulli.

We’ll be sharing the report with the community during the public exhibition from 9 September to 8 October 2019. Come along to our drop-in community information session where the floodplain engineers working on the Study will be available to answer your questions. There’s no formal presentation as such. Instead, we’ll have the report available for viewing, display stands showing flood mitigation projects, flood modelling maps and a short flood modelling video to help explain how and where it can flood in this catchment. This is a drop-in session, so you can come in at any time.

When: Wednesday 18 September 2019, drop in anytime between 4pm - 6pm
Where: Bulli Senior Citizens Centre, 8 Hospital Rd, Bulli

If you’d like to attend and have accessibility or mobility requirements, or need an interpreter, please contact us to let us know how we can support your attendance.

If you’d like to learn more but are unable to attend a session, the report will also be available to view at Thirroul Library until Tuesday 8 October, with copies of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), feedback forms and reply-paid envelopes available.

Read the FAQ, draft report and have a look at the Floodplain Risk Management Process diagram to learn more about the Study, how we manage flood risk and what we will use the flood study information for, then share your feedback online with the project team.

Following our conversations with the community, the Hewitts Creek Flood Study will go to Council for adoption. After that, we can start working on a Floodplain Risk Management Study that looks at what the risks and damages from floods might be, and what we could do to mitigate (reduce) those risks. We’ll again be inviting the community to contribute to that process when the time comes.

Feedback closes on 8 October 2019.

Consultation has concluded
  • Hewitts Creek Flood Study (2019) adopted by Council on 9 December 2019

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    The Hewitts Creek Flood Study (2019) was finalised following the public exhibition and a report went to Council at the meeting on 9 December 2019. Councillors resolved unanimously to adopt the Study.

    The Study will inform land use planning, planning certificates and be used for the development of a floodplain risk management study and plan.

    Read the Business Paper and meeting minutes on Council's website for more information.

    Thank you to all who made a submission. Your contribution to Council's management of flood risk is highly valued.
  • Community input

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    Council’s engagement team worked collaboratively with a technical consultant to share the draft Study with the community and key stakeholders. During the public exhibition period, 9 September to 8 October 2019, Council sent letters to more than 1,900 residents and property owners in the catchment area inviting them to learn more about the Study. Emails with this information were sent to community, education, Register of Interest (flood), business, government and emergency services’ stakeholders. The information was also available at Council’s Customer Service Centre. Copies of the draft report, a Frequently Asked Questions sheet and Feedback Form were made available at Thirroul Library, and at the information session at Bulli Senior Citizens Centre on 18 September 2019. They were also included on this project webpage. A notice of the exhibition was published in the Advertiser on 18 September 2019. The community was invited to provide feedback via this webpage, Customer Service Centre and at the community information session.

    The drop-in information session was attended by 27 community members and there were 15 submissions.

    Feedback directly relating to the draft Study focused on whether use of the 1987 Australian Rainfall and Runoff guidelines was appropriate. Concerns were expressed about the accuracy of the flood modelling and how the Blockage Policy was applied. There was a suggestion on how to simplify the use of risk management blockage factors. Clarification regarding hazard mapping was requested. There was a view that the percentage increase in rainfall intensity expected for the worst-case greenhouse gas concentration scenario was overly conservative. It was requested that the percentage increases in rainfall intensity be applied to the most up-to-date rainfall data for Wollongong. A way of improving the presentation of tables in the report was put forward, with corrections sought to the population of some. It was requested that the resolution of the figures be improved and that the latest cadastre be used. There was a concern that the Study does not take into consideration recent land clearing and alleged vegetation vandalism near Turnbull Gully, at the Armagh Parade development site. It was viewed that these land changes would also change flow conditions in Turnbull Gully and the nature of flooding at the Deborah Ave culvert.

    Other feedback themes related to suggestions for flood mitigation, frustration over the ongoing flood risk management process and perceived lack of action, comments on the perceived causes of flooding, and requests for creek and culvert maintenance. Some sought flood level information for their individual properties, or to understand what the Study findings mean in relation to their property. There was a view that Council influences how flood data is used for setting insurance premiums.