Floodplain Risk Management

The NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy aims to reduce the impact of flooding and flood liability on individual owners and occupiers of flood prone land, recognising the benefits from the use, occupation and development of flood prone land. A merit-based approach is promoted that balances social, economic, environmental and flood risk elements to make sure development in the floodplain is appropriate and sustainable.

The NSW Floodplain Development Manual (2005) guides Councils through the process of floodplain risk management. Floodplain risk management study and plans are developed to identify and prioritise ways to reduce risk of damage from flooding. The mapping developed goes through a consultation process with communities, Councillors and stakeholders before becoming formally adopted flood maps used by Council to define flood planning levels and flood risk precincts.

Flood mitigation proposals identified within the floodplain risk management plans fall within three broad categories:

Flood modification: retarding basins, levees and channel improvements
Response modification: education, emergency response and recovery planning
Property modification: planning and development controls, land zoning and building modification

Possible mitigation measures are investigated in detail and suitable solutions may be funded by Council's flood mitigation budget.

Risk Management Study and Plans

Further Information

For more information on this process, go to the Office of Environment and Heritage website.

For policy information, see the City of Parramatta Floodplain Risk Management Policy (2014).

To accompany any development application, modification application or Section 8.3 application, use the Stormwater Checklist (PDF, 1.28MB)

FloodSmart Parramatta

Floodplain Risk Management