Allans 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 updating the Allans Creek Flood Study. The updated Study explains the ways flooding happens in the Allans Creek catchment, located in Mount Keira, West Wollongong, Figtree, Mount Kembla, Unanderra, Farmborough Heights and Berkeley.

We’ll be sharing the report with the community during the public exhibition from 29 July to 26 August 2019. Come along to one of our drop-in community information sessions where the floodplain engineers working on the Study will be available to answer your questions. These are drop-in sessions, so you can come in at any time.

Mid-week Session

Wednesday 7 August 2019, drop in anytime between 4pm – 5:30pm
Figtree Community Hall (oval side), 11 Princes Highway, Figtree

Weekend Session

Saturday 10 August 2019, drop in anytime between 10:30am – 12pm
Berkeley Community Centre, Winnima Way, Berkeley


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 Unanderra and Wollongong Libraries until Monday 26 August 2019, 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 Allans 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 26 August 2019.

As part of our commitment to managing flood and stormwater in our region, we’re updating the Allans Creek Flood Study. The updated Study explains the ways flooding happens in the Allans Creek catchment, located in Mount Keira, West Wollongong, Figtree, Mount Kembla, Unanderra, Farmborough Heights and Berkeley.

We’ll be sharing the report with the community during the public exhibition from 29 July to 26 August 2019. Come along to one of our drop-in community information sessions where the floodplain engineers working on the Study will be available to answer your questions. These are drop-in sessions, so you can come in at any time.

Mid-week Session

Wednesday 7 August 2019, drop in anytime between 4pm – 5:30pm
Figtree Community Hall (oval side), 11 Princes Highway, Figtree

Weekend Session

Saturday 10 August 2019, drop in anytime between 10:30am – 12pm
Berkeley Community Centre, Winnima Way, Berkeley


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 Unanderra and Wollongong Libraries until Monday 26 August 2019, 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 Allans 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 26 August 2019.

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

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    The Allans Creek Flood Study (2019) was finalised following the public exhibition and a report went to Council at the meeting on 28 October 2019. The Study was not adopted at this meeting. A speaker at the Public Access Forum was against the recommendation, and Council resolved to defer it for 6 weeks to allow for a review of the methodology and further consultation with key stakeholders. Details are in the meeting minutes.

    A report on this matter went up at the meeting on Monday 9 December 2019, where 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 interest in 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 updated Study with the community and key stakeholders. During the public exhibition period, 29 July to 26 August 2019, Council sent letters to more than 7,700 residents and property owners in the catchment area inviting them to learn more about the review. 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 Unanderra and Wollongong Libraries, as well as information sessions at Figtree Community Hall on 7 August 2019 and Berkeley Community Centre on 10 August 2019. They were also included on this webpage. Notices of the exhibition were published in the Advertiser on 31 July and 7 August 2019. A media release was distributed on 29 July 2019. The community were invited to provide feedback via Council’s website, Customer Service Centre and at the community information sessions.

    There were 25 submissions. Some comments were provided at the drop-in information sessions which were attended by a total of 74 community members.

    Feedback themes relating to the flood study focused on flood estimation methodology, flood modelling and mapping. Concerns were expressed that Council is not using the most current available data. It was noted that the developers of Cobblers Run took Council to court about using the ARR1987 and were successful, with the new guidelines subsequently being used for that development. Questions were raised about why the new guidelines could not also be used for the rest of Northview Estate. Some detailed technical analyses of the Study were provided, with suggested changes. Comments related to the modelling of calibration events, blockage, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, estimates, validity, verification, data, catchment delineation, grid size, percentage impervious values, Manning’s values and definitions. There was some uncertainty about whether the modelling replicates real events. A comment was made that the mapping confirmed observed flood levels. Some suggested that the resolution of the maps needed to be improved. A method was stepped out as to how to improve this in a way that reduces loss of quality. It was also suggested to remove most maps that are based on “risk management” blockages.

    Other feedback themes related to observations of flooding, creek maintenance, flood mitigation, flood risk to individual properties, perceived causes of flooding, 1998 floods, planning/development and insurance premiums.