Managing Flood Risk in the Towradgi Creek Catchment

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Consultation has concluded

We’ve completed several studies to assess the flood risk within the Towradgi Creek Catchment. The risks are to people, property, infrastructure (e.g. roads and stormwater pipes) and assets (e.g. public parks). We’re now working on a Floodplain Risk Management Plan to look at ways to manage flood risk.

Measures used for managing flood risk
These measures might include groundworks in the catchment (e.g. drainage improvements, detention basins, and levees) to protect existing development and assets. We also consider using development controls and planning measures to reduce the risk of flooding to future development in the catchment. In addition, evacuation and emergency response planning will also be part of our approach to managing flood risk.

We’re asking the community to be involved in this flood risk management planning. We’d like to know where you think we should be focusing our efforts to protect existing homes, businesses, roads and other assets from flooding. We’d like you to be part of planning for flood-safe development into the future. We’ll work alongside the community and the State Emergency Service (NSW SES) so we can all respond to flooding in a coordinated, efficient and practical way.

Previous community input
The community has provided valuable input to previous flood investigations in the Towradgi Creek catchment. In October 2019, they shared feedback with us as part of the Towradgi Creek flood study update. They provided accounts of their observations of previous flooding and shared feedback on the flood mapping through an online survey and community drop-in session. This input helped us to assess the suitability of a range of flood management measures for the catchment.

Flood risk management measures for the Towradgi Creek catchment
Using the previous flood investigations and input from the community, we’ve assessed a range of flood management measures for their suitability in reducing flood risk in the Towradgi Creek catchment. These include engineering works, vegetation management, development controls, planning measures and emergency response arrangements. These are some examples of each of these measures:

Engineering structures

Debris control structuresImproving drainage

Property modifications (existing development)

Voluntary house purchase

House raising

Development controls (future development)

Minimum floor levels


Emergency response and community awareness

Flood warning signsFlood plan


Learn more and help with our planning
To find out more about the process for managing flood risk and how you can be involved in our planning:

Drop-in information session
At this session, we’ll have maps showing the location of the recommended measures for managing flood risk. The flood engineers who are working on the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for this catchment will be there to answer your questions, explain what is being planned and how the proposed measures will help manage flood risks.

Date: Wednesday 2 November 2022
Time: There's no presentation at this session, so you can drop in anytime between 3:30-6:30pm
Where: Towradgi Surf Club Function Room, 1 Murranar Road, Towradgi

Accessibility, mobility or language assistance
If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service. If you would like to attend the information sessions and have accessibility or mobility requirements, please let us know how we can support your attendance. We can also arrange for an interpreter to come along to help residents who have difficulty communicating in English. To arrange support, please contact engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au by Friday 28 October 2022.

Join the conversation
Share your feedback with the project team by 21 November 2022. Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.

We’ve completed several studies to assess the flood risk within the Towradgi Creek Catchment. The risks are to people, property, infrastructure (e.g. roads and stormwater pipes) and assets (e.g. public parks). We’re now working on a Floodplain Risk Management Plan to look at ways to manage flood risk.

Measures used for managing flood risk
These measures might include groundworks in the catchment (e.g. drainage improvements, detention basins, and levees) to protect existing development and assets. We also consider using development controls and planning measures to reduce the risk of flooding to future development in the catchment. In addition, evacuation and emergency response planning will also be part of our approach to managing flood risk.

We’re asking the community to be involved in this flood risk management planning. We’d like to know where you think we should be focusing our efforts to protect existing homes, businesses, roads and other assets from flooding. We’d like you to be part of planning for flood-safe development into the future. We’ll work alongside the community and the State Emergency Service (NSW SES) so we can all respond to flooding in a coordinated, efficient and practical way.

Previous community input
The community has provided valuable input to previous flood investigations in the Towradgi Creek catchment. In October 2019, they shared feedback with us as part of the Towradgi Creek flood study update. They provided accounts of their observations of previous flooding and shared feedback on the flood mapping through an online survey and community drop-in session. This input helped us to assess the suitability of a range of flood management measures for the catchment.

Flood risk management measures for the Towradgi Creek catchment
Using the previous flood investigations and input from the community, we’ve assessed a range of flood management measures for their suitability in reducing flood risk in the Towradgi Creek catchment. These include engineering works, vegetation management, development controls, planning measures and emergency response arrangements. These are some examples of each of these measures:

Engineering structures

Debris control structuresImproving drainage

Property modifications (existing development)

Voluntary house purchase

House raising

Development controls (future development)

Minimum floor levels


Emergency response and community awareness

Flood warning signsFlood plan


Learn more and help with our planning
To find out more about the process for managing flood risk and how you can be involved in our planning:

Drop-in information session
At this session, we’ll have maps showing the location of the recommended measures for managing flood risk. The flood engineers who are working on the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for this catchment will be there to answer your questions, explain what is being planned and how the proposed measures will help manage flood risks.

Date: Wednesday 2 November 2022
Time: There's no presentation at this session, so you can drop in anytime between 3:30-6:30pm
Where: Towradgi Surf Club Function Room, 1 Murranar Road, Towradgi

Accessibility, mobility or language assistance
If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service. If you would like to attend the information sessions and have accessibility or mobility requirements, please let us know how we can support your attendance. We can also arrange for an interpreter to come along to help residents who have difficulty communicating in English. To arrange support, please contact engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au by Friday 28 October 2022.

Join the conversation
Share your feedback with the project team by 21 November 2022. Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.

Consultation has concluded

  • Council adopts the Towradgi Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan

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    We have completed updated studies to assess the flood risk to people, private property, infrastructure, and public assets within the Towradgi Creek catchment area.

    Now we have a revised plan to manage those risks, considering the updated rainfall and climate forecasts. It’s called the Towradgi Creek Floodplain Risk Management Plan and it was adopted in last week’s general council meeting. The plan includes the suburbs of Tarrawanna, Corrimal, East Corrimal, Towradgi and small pockets of Balgownie and Fernhill.

    Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said this was an important milestone that will support appropriate flood risk management strategies to be put in place — such as development controls, emergency response measures, education, and infrastructure solutions — to benefit the residents and businesses in the catchment.

    “Wollongong is naturally flood-prone due to our built-up areas being sandwiched between the escarpment and the ocean. There are many of us in the city who will remember the flooding of August 1998 or experienced the flash flooding events last year. That’s why Council is working proactively to mitigate the risk of severe inundation and storm events right across the Wollongong Area,” Cr Bradbery said.

    “The work we’re doing through the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan looks at ways we can reduce the impacts from severe flooding in the Towradgi Creek catchment area.

    “The draft documents went on public exhibition late last year and we received 48 submissions from those who live and work in the catchment area. The majority of these were supportive of the mitigation options presented.

    “Their valuable input and lived experiences fed into the final versions.”

    Cr Bradbery said adopting the Towradgi Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan means Council can pursue funding opportunities from the state and federal governments to implement the priority actions.

    “The associated flood data will be fed into the NSW Flood Data Portal to provide a better understanding of flood behaviour, flood risk and wiser decision-making for the catchment.”

    The Towradgi Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan will be available on the website shortly. Until then, you can access them in the Monday 26 June 2023 council meeting business papers.

    For more information about flood risk management across Wollongong, visit the Floods and Stormwater webpage.