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 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.
