This flood study will form the basis for a subsequent floodplain risk management study where detailed assessment of flood mitigation options will be determined in consideration of social, ecological and economic factors relating to flood risk.

The primary objective of the Lower Ourimbah Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study Review is to determine appropriate floodplain management measures for the preparation of a cost-effective Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the study area. The study addresses flooding caused by runoff in the Ourimbah Creek and its tributaries and does not address flooding caused by elevated water levels in Tuggerah Lakes independent of river flooding. Floodplain management for Tuggerah Lakes flooding is to be addressed in a separate study, currently under development.

The primary objective of the flood study is to provide Council with design flood levels for Tuggerah Lakes. A second objective, to provide a flood forecasting capability, is described in a separate report (ref 18). A hydraulic model has been developed to assess the nature and extent of the flood hazard in the Tuggerah Lakes floodplain, and the model can be used to determine design flood levels and velocities for the purpose of evaluating floodplain management options.

The Wollombi Flood Study Review and Model Upgrade completed in 2010 represents the initial stage in the floodplain management process and establishes the basis for the current floodplain risk management study. The objectives of the Wollombi Floodplain Risk Management Study are to:  Identify and assess measures for the mitigation of existing flood risk;  Identify and assess planning and development controls to reduce future flood risks; and  Present a recommended floodplain management plan that outlines the best possible measures to reduce flood damages in the Wollombi locality. This report documents the Floodplain Risk Management Study and presents a recommended Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the Wollombi Village.

The objectives of the Flood Study are to: • Identify all the flood-related data by searching all relevant data sources. • Determine the likely extent and nature of flooding and identify potential hydraulic controls by carrying out detailed site visits of the study area. • Define existing catchment condition flood behaviour for mainstream flooding in the catchment with due consideration to the impact of Lake Macquarie levels on flooding characteristics. • Define design flood levels, velocities and flow distributions for the catchment. • Define the extent of flooding for the 200 year, 100 year, 20 year, 10 year and 5 year ARI floods and Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) for the catchment. • Define Provisional Flood Hazard for the flood-affected areas. • Define the Hydraulic Categories for the flood-affected areas. Two numerical modelling tools were developed: • A hydrologic model to convert rainfall on the catchment into runoff. The hydrologic model combines rainfall information with local catchment characteristics to estimate runoff hydrographs. • A hydraulic model to convert runoff hydrographs into water levels and velocities throughout the study area. The model simulates the hydraulic behaviour of the water within the study area by accounting for flow in the major channels as well as all the potential overland flowpaths, which develop when the capacity of the channels is exceeded. It relies on boundary conditions, which include the runoff hydrographs produced by the hydrologic model and the appropriate downstream boundary level from Lake Macquarie.

AIMS OF THE CURRENT STUDY In broad terms, the current Floodplain Risk Management Study has investigated what can be done to minimise the effects of flooding in the Haslams Creek catchment and recommended a strategy in the form of a draft Floodplain Risk Management Plan. Specific objectives of the study include: a review of the results from the 1999 Flood Study; consideration of the potential for culvert blockages and associated flood impacts; the implementation of a community consultation strategy, to ensure community input is obtained at key times throughout the study; a description and quantification of the flood problems in the Haslams Creek catchment including the likely cost of flooding to the local community; the identification and assessment of potential floodplain risk management measures to reduce the risks and hazards of flooding; a detailed review of issues relating to planning and development controls within the floodplain. Don Fox Planning Pty Ltd has prepared a document entitled Report on Planning Issues as part of this study. It is reproduced in Appendix A. Included in this report, is a proposed draft Development Control Plan (DCP) entitled “Managing Our Flood Risks”; the development of a recommended draft Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the Haslams Creek catchment that outlines the best measures to reduce flood damage, based on environmental, social, economic, financial and engineering considerations.

The objectives of this study are: to define the nature and extent of the flood hazard, to identify, assess and optimise strategies and measures aimed at reducing the impact of flooding on both existing and future development, to determine the effects of development on flooding, to determine flood damages.

Objective This Floodplain Management Study defines the nature and extent of the flood hazard in the three catchments. It also identifies and assesses strategies and measures aimed at reducing the impact of flooding on both existing and future development, and measures to prevent future development from making flooding worse. The results of this Floodplain Management Study are being used to prepare a Floodplain Management Plan (FPMP). The objective of the FPMP is to establish a cost-effective floodplain management strategy for the area and to recommend a programme for implementation of the Plan. The Study Brief is attached as Appendix A. What is in the Study The Floodplain Management Study and Plan will not totally eliminate flooding. Flooding is a natural phenomenon which cannot be fully controlled by human works. In fact, excessive artificial controls are likely to be very costly and to have adverse environmental effects. Therefore the Floodplain Management Study and Plan aim to provide a package of best management practices which give a balance between reducing flood hazard and flood damages, allowing appropriate development, and protecting and enhancing the environment of the floodplain. This Report has been divided into the following sections: Section 1: Introduction (page 1) Establishes the context and basis for the plan. Section 2: Background (page 5) Describes the study process, including previous studies, and the background technical information which is available. It includes a review of the previous Muddy Creek Flood Studies. Section 3: Existing Flood Behaviour (page 15) Summarises the available data and modelling results concerning flood behaviour. Section 4: Social and Economic Impacts of Flooding (page 23) Examines the potential flood damages and other social and economic effects of flooding for a range of flood events, including an extreme flood. Section 5: Choosing the Designated Flood (page 28) Discusses the issued to be considered by Council in choosing a designated flood for Rockdale, and recommends that the 1% AEP flood be adopted. Section 6: Available Floodplain Management Options (page 35) Describes in broad terms the range of flood mitigation and other management works and other measures available to address the existing, future and residual flooding problems in the study area. Sections 7, 8 and 9: Options for Management Areas (page 48) These three sections describe in detail, for the Muddy Creek, Spring St Drain and Scarborough Ponds catchments respectively, the feasible options and their likely benefits and costs. Section 10: Assessment of Management Options (page 86) Reviews the financial aspects and the justification for the proposed management measures, identifies priorities and possible sources of funding. These issues will be further addressed in the future Floodplain Management Plan. Section 11: References (page 90) Technical detail which supports the main report is provided in the Appendices, in Volume 2.

In view of the increasing catchment development and the need to accurately define the flood problem, Lake Macquarie City Council engaged Webb, McKeown & Associates, to undertake a Flood Study. The primary objectives of this Flood Study are: • to define the flood behaviour of the North Creek catchment by producing information on flood levels, velocities and flows for a range of design flood events under existing catchment and floodplain conditions, • to assess the hydraulic categories and undertake provisional flood hazard mapping, • to assess the extent of the flood problem by undertaking a damages assessment, • to formulate suitable hydrologic/hydraulic models that can be used in a subsequent Floodplain Risk Management Study to assess various floodplain management measures, including the effects of further development. This report details the results and findings of the Flood Study investigations. The key elements include: • a summary of available data, • reasons for the choice of hydrologic and hydraulic models, • calibration of these models, • establishment of design flood behaviour, • flood damages assessment. The Flood Study does not consider flooding from local drainage which may result from inadequate urban drainage provisions.

FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT STUDY The specific aims of this study are to:,