Central Coast Council has commenced the Somersby and Kariong Catchments Overland Flood Study, and is calling on the community and stakeholders to participate in an online survey to help provide a better understanding of overland flooding in the area.

An online survey is open from Monday 21 August until Sunday 22 September on Council’s engagement hub, yourvoiceourcoast.com.

Council Director of Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said the results of this survey will help Council better understand, plan for, and manage the risk of flooding across the Kariong and Somersby catchment areas.

“Strategic flood studies and plans are used by Council to appropriately manage development within Central Coast floodplains and to guide mitigation works (under the NSW Government's Flood Prone Land Policy),” Dr Howe said.

“We have engaged a specialist flood consultant to develop a Flood Study for the Kariong and Somersby catchment area, which will define the nature of overland flooding and provide a comprehensive technical understanding of flood behaviours and their associated risks.

“The study area consists of the Kariong residential area, the Somersby industrial area, and the rural residential area immediately to its north. Whilst these are elevated areas, they may still be susceptible to short intense bursts of rainfall that produce flash flooding which can impact road access, damage property, and hinder emergency response. 

“There is limited flood information currently available for these areas, so this initial stage of engaging with our community to gather local knowledge of lived experiences is an integral part in the development of the Flood Study.

“The Flood Study around Somersby and Kariong is an important step in the floodplain risk management process. Once finalised, Council will use the Study as a foundation to develop a Floodplain Risk Management Plan and propose options to mitigate the effects of flooding in the area.  More opportunities will be provided for the community to have their say on the best options for flood mitigation in their local area.”

Council continues to develop new or revised strategic flood studies and plans for the Central Coast region, and has recently adopted the Woy Woy Peninsula Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan following community review and feedback to the draft documents. The final recommendations with the highest priorities are land use and development control planning, landform adaptation and flood education programs, plus additional recommendations.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council is invested in working with the community to build a more resilient region with improved flood risk management.

“Community involvement is essential to the success of the Somersby and Kariong floodplain risk management process,” Mr Hart said.

“Community engagement will ensure that local knowledge of flood behaviour and community opinion will help guide future planning and mitigation works.

“I encourage residents, businesses, property owners and other interested people to go online to yourvoiceourcoast.com and participate in the Somersby and Kariong flood survey by 22 September.” 

The Somersby and Kariong Catchments Overland Flood Study is funded by the NSW Government and Central Coast Council.

To have your say on flooding in the Kariong and Somersby catchment areas, please read more information and complete an online survey by 22 September on Council’s engagement hub, yourvoiceourcoast.com.

To find completed Floodplain Risk Management Plans for the Central Coast Local Government Area, search ‘plans and strategies’ at centralcoast.nsw.com.au

For online flood risk tools and other resources and information to help plan and prepare for flooding, search ‘flooding’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au 

ENDS