Drop In Sessions
Council staff were at Centenary Hall, Albion Park on Wednesday 13 March to chat about the draft Study & Plan.
Thank you to our community members who came along and provided their input.
Council staff are now reviewing your feedback to determine if any changes need to be made to the draft. We'll let you know what we heard and keep you updated with the project outcome - just 'follow' this project above to receive updates.
Council staff were at Centenary Hall, Albion Park on Wednesday 13 March to chat about the draft Study & Plan.
Thank you to our community members who came along and provided their input.
The draft Study & Plan was on Public Exhibition until 20 March 2024.
The draft Macquarie Rivulet Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan is a long-term strategy for managing flood risks within the Macquarie Rivulet catchment area.
Council, with the assistance of NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (formerly known as the Department of Planning and Environment), adopted a flood study for the catchment area in 2017. The flood study looked at how flood water moves within the catchment and gave Council detailed information on flood risk.
We've since been working together with WMA Water to build on this information about flood patterns in the catchment area and come up with a plan on how we can minimise the impacts of flooding in the future. The draft plan weighs up different flood mitigation measures against a range of factors like construction feasibility, economic benefits, impacts on commercial, residential and public properties, risk to life, and reliance on the NSW SES.
The project is being managed by Council, with financial and technical assistance provided by DCCEEW. The project is being steered by the Coastal and Flood Risk Management Advisory Committee of Council, with assistance from Wollongong City Council.
Consultation with those who live, work in or visit the study area occurred in 2020, right as we started working on the draft FRMS&P. We asked people to share their feedback about:
We were then able to use this feedback in addition to previous flood study information, records and shared experiences to identify, assess and compare flood risk management options.
Now, we've put all this information together in the draft FRMS&P and want you to tell us how we went! Make a submission with your feedback on the draft plan.
The Macquarie Rivulet catchment area includes Yallah, Albion Park Rail, Albion Park, Tullimbar, Calderwood and Yellow Rock making this a joint project with Shellharbour City Council and Wollongong City Council.
A Floodplain Risk Management Study draws on the results of the flood study and provides information and tools to allow strategic assessment of the impacts of management options for existing, future and continuing flood risk. A Floodplain Risk Management Plan is a plan that is produced to provide input into the strategic and statutory planning roles of councils on how to best manage the flood risk.
The PMF is the largest flood that could conceivably occur. It is typically estimated from probable maximum precipitation coupled with the worst flood producing catchment conditions. While it is a rare and improbable occurrence, every property potentially affected by a PMF is considered to be on a floodplain and has some element of flood risk. Under the State Government's Floodplain Development Manual (2005), councils must consider the full range of risk when managing floodplains.
A 1% AEP flood event (often referred to as the 100-year flood) is the flood that has a 1% probability of occurring in any given year. If you have experienced a 1% AEP flood event, it is still quite possible for you to experience another event of similar magnitude within your lifetime, as large flood events do occur randomly. Some parts of Australia have received two or three 1% AEP flood events within a few years of one another. On average, if you live to be 70 years old, you have a better than even chance of experiencing a 1% AEP flood event.
A flood study is a comprehensive technical investigation of flood behaviour. It defines the nature of flood risk by providing information on the extent, level and velocity of floodwaters.
The Defined Flood Event (DFE) is the flood event selected as the general standard for managing flood risk to development. Selecting a DFE aims to reduce the frequency of flooding but does not remove all flood risk. It also considers the projected impacts of climate change.
The DFE for the Macquarie Rivulet FRMS&P adopts the 1%AEP flood event, along with sea level rise and rainfall increases that align with climate change predictions of RCP8.5.
For the Macquarie Rivulet FRMS&P the Flood Planning Level (FPL) is the flood level of the DFE plus 0.5m freeboard. This is then used to determine the Flood Planning Area (FPA). The FPA is the area within which developments may be subject to flood related development controls.
The FPA is calculated as the area below the FPL. It should be noted there are some development types that may also have development controls higher than the FPL.
Australian Height Datum is a reference of the elevation of any object or point above mean sea level, which is taken as 0m AHD. All flood levels, floor levels and ground levels are given in meters AHD.
In 2005 the New South Wales Government put forward the updated Floodplain Development Manual which outlined the required method for councils to manage flood liable land. A key objective in this manual is to undertake flood studies for appropriate catchments to provide detailed information on flood behaviour.
Council has completed a number of Flood Studies and Flood Plain Risk Management Studies. The adopted studies are available on Council's website. If your property is flood affected and you require flood levels and velocities for your property, you can submit a request for flood level information to Council. Council will then provide you with property specific flood information letter that can be used to manage your risk and inform the design of your development proposal.
Flood behaviour, including flood levels, velocities and hazard is calculated using detailed computer models to simulate floods of varying magnitudes. These models may be reviewed periodically when:
Many parts of Shellharbour City have little or no flood data or records available at Council. Over time as new data is received and new flood studies are adopted by Council, more flood liable land will be identified and mapped accordingly. Also, under changes to the NSW Government's Floodplain Development Manual in 2005, flood liable land became inclusive of land that is affected by the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). Before this only land inundated by the 100-year flood level was considered.
If your property is now classified as flood affected, the real world flood risks to your property is not likely to have changed; only that new information has been made available.
Councils floodplain management program has been ongoing now for more than 15 years. Council first adopted a flood study for Lake Illawarra in 2001. A flood study was adopted for Elliot Lake Little Lake in 2006 and again for Horsley Creek in 2011. Concerns over effects on property values were raised from residents in these catchments prior to adoption by Council, however no evidence has been presented to Council to suggest that there have been negative impacts on property values or development in these study areas.
In 2012, a standard definition of flood was agreed upon by the Insurance industry. This is now known as:
The covering of normally dry land by water that has escaped or been released from
the normal confines of:
• any lake, or any river, creek or other natural watercourse, whether or not altered or modified; or
• any reservoir, canal, or dam.
However, Insurance companies each have their own distinctive ways in which they calculate risk and determine insurance policy premiums. Many insurance companies will offer house and contents insurance, with each individual insurance company determining their own policy and conditions.
Flood insurance premiums generally reflect the level of flood risk at a property and the cost of repairing or rebuilding the property. In practice, this can be broken down to three factors which would be assessed by all insurers when setting a flood premium for a property:
Likelihood and depth of flooding are assessed at an individual address level, using results from computer flood modelling which simulates how water flows through a catchment. Expected cost of recovery includes repair, rebuild and replacement costs, temporary accommodation, and other factors such as the potential shortage of materials and labour after a flood event. Some insurers may also consider property-specific information such as number of storeys, floor levels, building materials used and construction type.
Insurance policies and conditions may change over time or between insurance companies, and you should confirm the specific details of your situation with your insurer.
Flood affected property may be developed if the proposed development meets the relevant standards and requirements. The applicable planning controls are largely determined by the proposed land use and the extent of flooding on your property.
A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is a legal document which allows Council to regulate land use and development. They are prepared by Council and approved by the State Government.
A Development Control Plan (DCP) provides detailed planning and design guidelines to support the planning controls in the LEP. Sections of Council's DCP provide criteria for assessing applications for properties potentially affected by flooding. The above documents are available on Council's website.
Council owns and manages a significant number of stormwater pits, pipes, channels, culverts, basins and Gross Pollutant traps throughout the city and we are committed to maintaining this infrastructure within the limits that current funding and resources permit. Council has an annual budget for cleaning and maintaining this infrastructure, as well as a budget for Capital Works (upgrading and building new infrastructure). All works are scheduled on a priority basis, where those works that are most critical become highest priority.
Although the impact of vegetation on flood behaviour is very important, vegetation has an essential function in managing erosion and providing habitat to wildlife. Unless identified within an adopted Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan, the flood impacts associated with the removal of vegetation from creeks and waterways is relatively unknown. For example, carrying out such works may have little to no benefit in reducing flood risks. Alternatively, such works could reduce the flood risks in one area, whilst increase it in other areas. These issues are considered in the context of a Floodplain Risk Management Study.
Our office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday
Customer Service phone: 4221 6111 www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
council@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of Let's Chat (“the site”). The platform is owned and operated by Social Pinpoint Pty Ltd, on behalf of Shell Harbour City Council.
By accessing and using this site, you are choosing to accept and comply with the Terms presented throughout this agreement as well as the Privacy Policy and Moderation Policy. These Terms apply to all visitors and users of this site. Linked sites, affiliated services or third party content or software have their own Terms that you must comply with. If you disagree with any of the Terms presented in this agreement, you may discontinue using the site immediately.
If you are under 18 years old, please ensure that your parent or guardian understands and accepts these Terms and Conditions (including the Privacy Policy and Moderation Policy).
What are the conditions with a user’s account?
While using the site, you must not violate any applicable laws and regulations. It is our duty to protect the confidentiality of content you provide on our site in accordance with our Privacy Policy. When you create an account with us, you must always provide us with accurate information. Failure to provide accurate information violates the Terms, which may result in immediate termination of your account on our service. You are responsible for protecting your own password you use for this site and for any activities done under that password. Unauthorised use of your password or account must be immediately reported to Social Pinpoint. In some cases, we or our agents may require access to your user accounts to respond to technical issues.
We are not responsible for the content on the site that has been provided by the users of the site. Any content posted by you is subject to the rules of our Moderation Policy. Your contribution to the site may be edited, removed or not published if we consider it inappropriate (refer to Moderation Policy). Contributors should also be aware that their posts may remain online indefinitely. Where practical, you may choose not to identify yourself, deal with us on an anonymous basis or use a pseudonym.
What does Social Pinpoint require from their users?
You must understand and agree that, without limitation:
all information, data, images and other materials are the sole responsibility of the person from whom the content originated; you are prohibited from advertising or offering to sell or buy any goods and services you cannot transmit Content that contains software viruses or programs designed to change or destroy the functionality of any computer software or hardware; or you cannot collect or store personal data about other users of the site you cannot impersonate any person or entity, including without limitation to a Social Pinpoint representative you cannot interrupt or interfere with the site or servers or networks connected to the site you cannot attempt to gain unauthorised access to the site or other use accounts
Can your account be suspended or terminated?
We may terminate or suspend access to your site and/or account immediately, without prior notice, including without limitation if you breach the Terms. We may immediately deactivate or delete your account and all the related files and information in your account. After your account has been terminated, the content you have posted may also remain indefinitely on the site.
If you want to terminate your own account, please send an email to info@socialpinpoint.com.
Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed in accordance with the laws of Victoria, Australia, without regards to its conflict of law provisions.
Indemnification
Social Pinpoint, its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, licensors and other partners are not responsible for any loss, liability, claim, or demand, including legal fees, made by any third party due to or arising from a breach of this agreement and/or any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above.
What content does Social Pinpoint own?
The Let's Chat website contains the copyrighted material, trademarks, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary information (“Intellectual Property”) of Social Pinpoint and its suppliers and licensors. Social Pinpoint owns and retain all proprietary rights in the intellectual property. All intellectual property in the content of this site including without limitation to text, software, source code, pages, documents and online graphics, photographs, sounds, audio, video and other interactive features are owned by or licensed to us.
Any original content that you submit or post on our site may be made available to the public and allows users to share your content (with the end user acknowledging your contribution) under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Australian License.
Except for Intellectual Property which is in the public domain or for which you have been given written permission, you may not copy, alter, transmit, sell, distribute any of the Intellectual Property.
We are not responsible for your communications or dealings, including payment and delivery of goods or services, with a third party found via our website. Any loss or damage incurred from those communications or dealings are solely between the user and the third party.
Disclaimer and Warranties
Users must agree that you use of the site is at your own risk. We make no warranty that the site will meet your requirements or be uninterrupted or error-free. Any material that the user downloads through the site is done at their own risk and are responsible for any damages to their computer system or loss of data.
What happens if these Terms change?
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time without notice. The most recent version of the Terms can be seen on this page. By continuing to access or use our site after those revisions become effective, you agree and will comply to the revised terms. If you do not agree to the revised terms, please discontinue using our site.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@socialpinpoint.com
Enter your email address below. We will send you instructions to reset your password.
Back to Log in
Creating an account helps us better understand your needs and the needs of the community.
Sign up with email
Already have an account? Log in now
Thank you, your account has been created.
Completing the questions below helps us better understand the diverse range of people who contribute their ideas. The questions are optional.
You’re using an outdated browser.
Some features of this website may not work correctly. To get a better experience we strongly recommend you download a new browser for free:
Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates?