FAQs

The City of Coffs Harbour received funding from the State Floodplain Management program, which is run by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Emergency, Environment and Water (DCCEWW), to carry out a flood investigation for the Coffs Creek Catchment.

This project reviewed the current flood study's models and risk management plan to better understand how changes in the area—such as new flood prevention measures or development—affect flood behavior. It also examined existing management strategies and explored new, practical, and cost-effective ways to manage flood risks now and in the future. The findings from this updated study will help guide the creation of a new Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the area.

In addition, the study will improve the accuracy of flood maps for the city by using new, high-resolution topographic data and advanced flood modeling software.

The Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan looked at the impacts of flooding on the community and recommended actions to reduce and prevent flooding damage. This includes both the current flood risks from existing development and the future risks from planned development and land use changes.

The results of the study will update the current Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, offering a balanced mix of management measures and strategies. These will help guide and organise the responsibilities of both the government and the community in managing flood risks, both now and in the future.

The information from the study will also be used by the State Emergency Service (SES) during flood emergencies and will assist the City in managing development in areas that are at risk of flooding.

Council engaged specialist flood consultants WMAwater to undertake the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for the Coffs Creek Catchment.

• consistency with the NSW Floodplain Development Manual 2005
• consistency with national best practice,
• compatibility with future climate change scenarios,
• consistency with the transparent mapping needs of the Council

The basins that were built in Coffs Harbour were not designed to completely stop flooding, but rather to reduce how often floods happen, how severe they are, and their overall impact. This study will update the city's flood models based on the latest guidelines and standards to provide the most accurate information. The plan will also explore additional ways the City can reduce flood risk in the future.

The Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan has looked into mitigation measures for the entire Coffs Creek catchment, with a focus on the northern tributaries around Bray Street, Antares Avenue, Baringa Hospital and the Masonic Village on Mackays Road. Other flood prone areas such as around the Gundagai Street Bridge, Azalea Avenue and Combine Street, McLean Street and the CBD were also investigated.

As part of the study, computer models are revised and predicted flood levels and associated flood mapping can change.

The reasons why the computer models are revised and predicted flood levels change can include;

• new rainfall or ground topography information being available;
• new floods occur which provide additional data from which to fine-tune the models;
• new and updated flood modelling guidance and science becomes available;
• better computer models become available as the science of flood modelling improves and computer capabilities increase;
• flood mitigation works may have been carried out;
• development within the catchment may have occurred, that was not previously simulated in the models.

Insurers use data from a variety of sources including historical flood measurements, Federal, State and Local government studies, the Insurance Council of Australia’s (ICA) National Flood Information Database and through their own research.

Insurance companies use these sources of data to make their own assessment of risk – different companies will assess the risk in different ways. Insurers typically do not use to flood extent information to calculate risk or set premiums.

Many factors affect the property market and the individual choice of buyers, including interest rates, the health of the economy and the desire to live in a particular location. Studies on the value of properties in flood-affected areas here and overseas show some consistent patterns:

• There is already a discount built into the market for properties that are known to flood
• Even in known flood areas, other factors such as aspect, views, and direct water frontage are strong drivers of value
• In some particular cases prices may drop after a major flood or other disaster prices (typically five to 10 per cent) but generally recover after one or two years.

More information can be found HERE

The community is being called upon during the study and plan review to complete a short questionnaire to gather information on their flood experiences, as well as their thoughts on current and future mitigation measures. Photographs, recordings of flood depths or other relevant material that residents may have and would like to share would also be welcomed for the review. We are interested in your experience of flooding and any photos of flooding particularly at the maximum level it reached We are also seeking community input on current and future mitigation measures

*PLEASE NOTE THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED* (10th Jan 2022)