Central Coast Council has commissioned engineering consultants BMT to undertake an overland flood study for each of the contributing catchments within the Central Coast Council Local Government Area (LGA) that flow into Lake Macquarie.

The flood study forms an initial stage towards the development of a comprehensive Floodplain Risk Management Plan, in accordance with the NSW Floodplain Development Manual (2005).

Council Acting Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff, said Council has taken the initiative to carry out the flood study to assist with managing the risk the community faces from flooding.

“We are eager to receive any comments and information from our community who live in the catchment areas about their experiences of local flooding,” Mr Bolgoff said.

“The participation and feedback from the community is essential to the success of the study, and will be instrumental in helping to develop a detailed plan to manage ongoing flood risk.

“The flood study is in its inception phase where the consultants are collecting and collating data on flooding and the catchment. This data will be essential for the development of detailed rainfall/runoff (hydrology) and flood level (hydraulic) models, which will provide the technical analysis required for the flood study and future development of the Floodplain Risk Management Plan.”

The study area has a combined size of approximately 30km2 and includes the following suburbs:

• Mannering Park
• Doyalson
• Doyalson North
• Kingfisher Shores
• Chain Valley Bay
• Lake Munmorah
• Crangan Bay
• Summerland Point
• Gwandalan
• Point Wolstoncroft

Residents in identified areas included in the study will receive a letter from Council containing a paper based survey and a reply paid envelope. The survey is also available online at yourvoiceourcoast.com.

The study survey is now open and will close on Friday 12 October 2018.

Residents are encouraged to provide photographs, stories or details of flood marks on or near their property to help inform the study.

The project is supported by the NSW Government’s Floodplain Management Program.