Central Coast Council is calling on the community to have their say on two draft Floodplain Risk Management Plans and Studies now open for public comment.

The two documents, one for the Northern Lakes catchment and the other covering the Davistown/Empire Bay catchments, have drawn on community response and floodplain risk management studies, to offer options that will help mitigate the risk of future flooding events.

Council has also commenced the initial stages of the Floodplain Risk Management Study for the Woy Woy catchment and asking community members to provide suggestions on how they would like to see flooding issues addressed.

Council’s Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said that the plans focus on reducing the impact of flooding to residents and businesses within these catchments.

“Our flood planning team and expert consultants look at a range of factors to evaluate a flood mitigation measures specific to each catchment,” Mr Cox said.

“The plans also take into consideration feedback from consultation with the affected communities, and now is the time for these communities to make sure we have covered their areas of concern and that they understand the implications of the recommendations made.

“For residents and business in the Woy Woy peninsula catchment, we are drawing on a number of historic plans to begin this process, we want them to help us understand the flooding impacts from a local point of view and encourage them to complete the survey.”

Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said Council was providing several ways for the community to get involved, and he encouraged them to do so.

“There are COVID-safe drop in sessions scheduled for the residents in all of these catchments as well as opportunity for virtual one-on-one meetings for the Northern Lakes and Davistown/Empire Bay catchments” Mr Persson said.

“I highly recommend the residents take the time to read the documents and have a conversation with our staff about what it will mean for them.”

Bookings are essential for all events. Residents and businesses can visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/floodplain for all the information and have their say.

The floodplain risk management plans and strategies are developed with financial assistance from the NSW Government through its Floodplain Management Program.