Identifies the district boundaries declared in the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Greater Sydney Region Districts) Order 2017. For the purposes of Part 3B of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the following districts are declared, with the names specified below, for those parts of the Greater Sydney Region within the local government areas specified next to the name of each district:

• Eastern City District – comprising the local government areas of Bayside, Burwood, Canada Bay, Inner West, City of Randwick, Strathfield, City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra,
• Central City District – comprising the local government areas of City of Blacktown, Cumberland, City of Parramatta and The Hills Shire,
• Western City District – comprising the local government areas of Camden, City of Campbelltown, City of Blue Mountains, City of Fairfield, City of Hawkesbury, City of Liverpool, City of Penrith and Wollondilly,
• North District – comprising the local government areas of Hornsby, Hunter’s Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Norther Beaches, City of Ryde and City Willoughby,
• South District – comprising the local government areas of Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River and Sutherland Shire.

Regional water strategies (RWS) set the direction for water planning and management at a regional scale over the next 20-40 years. There are 14 regional water strategies (including Greater Sydney Water Strategy), tailored to the unique challenges and needs of each region. They have been developed in partnership with water service providers, local councils, communities, Aboriginal people and other stakeholders across NSW.

The boundaries of regional water strategy areas define regions in NSW for which regional water strategies are prepared. The boundaries are based on several factors, including:

• surface water hydrology
• statutory instruments, such as water sharing plans and water resource plans
• economic, social and cultural factors
• government strategic plans

The boundaries of regional water strategy (RWS) areas mostly, but not exclusively, align with groups of water sharing plan boundaries for surface water sources:

• In coastal areas, RWS boundaries align with Water Sharing Plan boundaries
• In inland areas, RWS boundaries align with Water Resource Plan boundaries.

The NSW Murray RWS also includes the area for the Wentworth weir pool. Its boundary is further defined using the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) geofabric AHGF Catchment layer to include the catchments that incorporate the Wentworth Weir pool. The Fish River–Wywandy RWS boundary was also further defined using the BoM geofabric, local council boundaries and National Parks Estate boundaries.

Note: If you would like to ask a question, make any suggestions, or tell us how you are using this dataset, please visit the NSW Water Hub which has an online forum you can join.

Identifies the district boundaries declared in the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Greater Sydney Region Districts) Order 2017. For the purposes of Part 3B of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the following districts are declared, with the names specified below, for those parts of the Greater Sydney Region within the local government areas specified next to the name of each district: Eastern City District – comprising the local government areas of Bayside, Burwood, Canada Bay, Inner West, City of Randwick, Strathfield, City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra, Central City District – comprising the local government areas of City of Blacktown, Cumberland, City of Parramatta and The Hills Shire, Western City District – comprising the local government areas of Camden, City of Campbelltown, City of Blue Mountains, City of Fairfield, City of Hawkesbury, City of Liverpool, City of Penrith and Wollondilly, North District – comprising the local government areas of Hornsby, Hunter’s Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Norther Beaches, City of Ryde and City Willoughby, South District – comprising the local government areas of Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River and Sutherland Shire. Explore Metadata

A map of the high ecological value waterways and water dependent ecosystems for the Georges River LGA was prepared by the Science Division of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, with input layers and support for the map provided by the former NSW Department of Primary Industries-Fisheries and Department of Industry-Crown Lands and Water. The basis for the map arises from Science Division inputs to strategic planning processes. For example, the map has been included in the Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plans for the Wilton (Wilton2040, page 22) and Greater Macarthur (interim plan, page 36) Priority Growth Areas. This map was specifically developed for input to Local Government Local Strategic Planning Statements to support Council’s delivery of Strategy 25.1 of the Greater Sydney Region Plan.

The map shows areas where waterways and water dependent ecosystems are defined as high ecological value, based on definitions, guidelines and policies under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, Fisheries Management Act 1994 and Water Management Act 2000. Water dependent ecosystems are defined as wetlands, and flora and fauna that rely on water sources (including groundwater). The map represents an overlay of 39 indicators being used by the State Government to define high value, however, not all 39 indicators will be present in any one LGA (see Attachment 1 below). For example, there are 20 indicators making up the map for the Georges River LGA. It should also be noted that the individual indicators have not been ground-truthed and it is recommended that field assessments and/or a comparison to local mapping be undertaken prior to any decisions being made. The map was created by initially placing a 1 ha (to correspond with a lot size) hexagon grid over the LGA, and attributing the grid with the area, length and/or frequency of occurrence of high value water dependent ecosystems. The purpose of the map is to identify strategic planning priorities for protecting and improving the health of high value waterways and water dependent ecosystems in the LGA. Once identified, the priorities can be used as a basis for identifying aquatic biodiversity refugia, stream rehabilitation efforts and setting management targets and/or land use planning controls that would protect or improve the health of waterways and water dependent ecosystems so they provide the essential services and functions expected of a cool blue-green corridor.

The Cooks River catchment is a major watershed within Sydney, draining some 103 km2 and is home to 560,265 people (ABS, 2020). As such, Cooks River is a key catchment in terms of floodplain risk management within New South Wales. The Cooks River catchment extends across multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs) and is of interest to several other state government agencies and community groups. This project is the Cooks River Catchment Flood Study Stage 1 and is the first stage of a catchment-wide Flood Study for the Cooks River catchment. Stage 1 aims to consolidate an extensive range of datasets, including existing models from Flood Studies and Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans. Many of these studies have been supported by the NSW Floodplain Risk Management Program, whilst some have been separately undertaken. The outcome of Stage 1 is a framework to support the development of an integrated and regional floodplain risk management plan in the catchment and to define the basis of future modelling and catchment-wide consideration of flood risk.

Map of koala movement corridors and priority restoration areas in a study area in south-western Sydney. Koala movement corridors are classified as primary, secondary and tertiary according to the level of connectivity of core koala habitat which are critical for the long-term viability of the regional koala population in the study area. Koala corridor categories also consider corridor dimensions such as minimum widths. Koala corridors are likely to extend outside of the study area. They are named, largely by geographic area or river/creek catchment. The mapping, along with key koala conservation principles, form the basis of advice by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment related to the conservation of the regional koala population extending from Holsworthy and Moorebank, through Campbelltown and Wollondilly, to Wingecarribee. For further information on the data layer and its development, please see Conserving koalas in Wollondilly and Campbelltown Local Government Areas. Also available for download from Data and resources below.

THE STUDY AREA

The Upper Parramatta River catchment covers an area of 110 square kilometres and covers all land that drains to the Parramatta River upstream of its tidal limit at the Charles Street Weir, between the Barry Wilde Bridge (Wilde Avenue) and the Gasworks Bridge (Macarthur Street). Most of the catchment is urbanised and has a population of more than 230,000. However, there are significant areas of urban bushland, generally located along the major watercourses.

A map of the study area is presented as Figure 1.1. The Upper Parramatta River has a number of tributaries that flow into it within the study area. The two largest tributaries are Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek. Other tributaries include the following:

• Brickfield Creek;
• Domain Creek;
• Finlaysons Creek;
• Coopers Creek;
• Pendle Creek (also known as Pendle Hill Creek);
• Greystanes Creek (also known as Girraween Creek);
• Grantham Creek;
• Blacktown Creek;
• Lalor Creek;
• Quarry Creek;
• The Quarry Branch (also known as Northmead Gully);
• Excelsior Creek;
• Blue Gum Creek;
• Rifle Range Creek;
• Hunts Creek.

The Upper Parramatta River catchment includes parts of the following four local government areas (LGAs):

• Shire of Baulkham Hills — including the suburbs of Oatlands, Carlingford, North Rocks, Northmead, North Parramatta, West Pennant Hills, Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills;
• City of Blacktown — including the suburbs of Toongabbie, Seven Hills, Prospect, Blacktown, Lalor Park and Kings Langley;
• City of Holroyd — including the suburbs of Westmead, Wentworthville, South Wentworthville, Greystanes, Pendle Hill, Girraween, Prospect, Toongabbie and Merrylands West;
• City of Parramatta — including the suburbs of Parramatta, North Parramatta, Westmead, Northmead, Wentworthville, Toongabbie, Old Toongabbie and Winston Hills.

OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY

The primary objective of the current Upper Parramatta River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan is to bring together, and place in appropriate context, all past, current and proposed future activities related to the reduction of flood risk in the catchment. In broad terms, the current study has investigated what can be done to minimise the effects of flooding in the Upper Parramatta River catchment and recommended a strategy in the form of a Floodplain Risk Management Plan. As mentioned above, despite the expenditure of more than $35 million on flood mitigation works and measures since 1989, none of the four councils within the area of the Trust have adopted a formal Floodplain Risk Management Plan as required by the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy. This study and plan constitute key components of the NSW Government’s floodplain risk management process as outlined in the Floodplain Management Manual (NSW Government, 2001) (see Section 1.4).

Some of the objectives of the study include:

• briefly outlining the hydrological and hydraulic modelling activities that have been undertaken for the catchment to date;
• briefly reviewing the past, current and future flood-related activities of the Trust and the four constituent Councils;
• reviewing, in detail, issues relating to planning and development controls within the catchment’s floodplains;
• identifying additional floodplain risk management measures that particularly relate to community awareness about flooding, the release of flood-related information to the community, flood warning and emergency management;
• developing a mutually agreeable Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the Upper Parramatta River catchment that outlines the best measures to reduce flood damage, based on environmental, social, economic, financial and engineering considerations.

Report

The structure of this report is as follows:

Chapter 2 summarises the flood problems, together with the behaviour and impacts of flooding in the Upper Parramatta River catchment. Chapter 2 also discusses the modelling of flood flows and flood levels in the catchment;

Chapter 3 provides an overview of the previous flood-related studies and investigations that have been undertaken in the catchment, together with an outline of the available mapping and survey that has been carried out;

Chapter 4 presents an overview of floodplain risk management measures available for dealing with flood problems generally and the methodology used to assess these management measures in the current study. The large number of floodplain risk management measures that have already examined and implemented in the catchment are also listed in this chapter;

Chapter 5 discusses possible future floodplain risk management options for the Upper Parramatta River catchment, particularly flood-related planning and development controls, community awareness about flooding, the release of floodrelated information to the community, flood warning and emergency management;

Chapter 6 lists all the documents referenced in this study;

Chapter 7 provides a bibliography of all studies and investigations that have been undertaken in the catchment since the early 1970s;

Chapter 8 provides a glossary of terms used in this study.

The study area defined by Council is as follows: The Nepean River from Menangle Weir (4.5 kilometres upstream of Camden Council’s LGA boundary) to the river’s confluence with the Warragamba River …Show full descriptionThe study area defined by Council is as follows: The Nepean River from Menangle Weir (4.5 kilometres upstream of Camden Council’s LGA boundary) to the river’s confluence with the Warragamba River near Warragamba Park; and Five tributaries of the Nepean River within Camden Council’s LGA boundary, namely Navigation Creek, Matahil Creek, Sickles Creek, Cobbitty Creek and Bringelly Creek. The general approach and methodology employed to achieve the study objectives involved: Compilation and review of available information, including previously completed flood studies, streamflow gauge records, rainfall records, topographic mapping of the floodplain and details of bridge crossings and other structures; Site inspections and interrogation of aerial photography and other geographical data in order to establish catchment roughness, slope and land-use attributes; The collection of historical flood information, including records of peak flood levels for historical floods; The development of a computer based hydrologic model to simulate the transfer of rainfall into runoff and its concentration in local streams during flood events; The development of a computer based hydrodynamic model to simulate the movement of floodwaters through the reaches of the Nepean River floodplain that lie both within and downstream of the boundaries of the Camden Shire Council LGA area; Calibration and verification of the models; and The determination of peak flood levels and flow velocities at selected locations along the selected reach of the Nepean River for the predicted 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) floods and the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF).

The Hawkesbury-Nepean River catchment is one of the largest coastal basins in NSW with an area of 21,400 square kilometres. The catchment at Penrith is 52% of the total area and of this portion, 80% …Show full descriptionThe Hawkesbury-Nepean River catchment is one of the largest coastal basins in NSW with an area of 21,400 square kilometres. The catchment at Penrith is 52% of the total area and of this portion, 80% is under the control of Warragamba Dam. This study culminates several stages in the progressive evolution of a two dimensional numerical flood model of the Nepean River through the Penrith Local Government Area. The initial flood model development commenced in 2005 by revising an earlier version with LiDAR terrain data that had been captured in 2002. The flood model then progressed in stages as more historic data was uncovered, enabling a more detailed and rigorously calibrated model to be developed. The final model awaited the completion of the lakes’ terrain landscape and the hydraulic control structures within the Penrith Lakes Scheme. A new LiDAR data set was captured for the Lakes Scheme and the surrounding area in 2016, enabling completion of the study. The flood modelling was undertaken using the RMA-2 hydrodynamic modelling package and covers the floodplain between Glenbrook Creek and Yarramundi Bridge. The calibration was greatly facilitated by a set of vertical air photos taken 3 hours after the peak of the 1978 flood, the largest flood with suitable recorded data (the others being 1986 and 1990). Upstream flow hydrograph and downstream stage discharge boundary condition data was sourced from the one dimensional Hawkesbury-Nepean model that had been developed for Sydney Water’s Warragamba Dam studies in the mid 1990s. Eight design flood hydrographs were run through the model, including the 20yr ARI, 50yr ARI, 100yr ARI, 200yr ARI, 500yr ARI, 1000yr ARI, 2000yr ARI and the probable maximum flood.

Study Area

The study area is largely located within the Sydney suburb of Panania. The study area includes the entire Kelso Creek catchment, from the stormwater pipe network in the upper catchment to Kelso Creek, which flows through Kelso Park and eventually joins the Georges River. The lower catchment is provided some protection against flooding from the Georges River through the Kelso levee. The catchment is wholly within the Bankstown local government area.

Report Structure

This report is divided into two parts. The first part provides background on the study and further discussion of the available data, modelling approach and results from the flood model that was established to analyse flooding within the catchment. The second part is a technical report that provides additional detail concerning the flood model, model results and flood mapping, which is included as an appendix.

Outcomes from the Study

Outcomes from this study include:

(i) a database of all drainage assets within the study area; (ii) establishment of a computer model capable of assessing flood behaviour; (iii) information on flood behaviour under existing catchment conditions; and (iv) a model that can be used to assess flood mitigation options and future development proposals.

Database of Drainage Assets

All data collected for the study has been included within a GIS database. This allows the data to be spatially represented across the study area and allows for easy retrieval of the data as required. Information in the database includes data for some 850 stormwater pits and 810 stormwater drainage pipelines. Photos of culverts and other sketches are also linked to the database.

Other catchment data, including aerial photography, property cadastre, building footprints and the terrain surface (based on ALS survey) is also represented in the database.

Computer Modelling

A numerical computer model was developed for the catchment to simulate flood behaviour, using the computer program known as TUFLOW. Surface flows are represented in the model through a 2-dimensional grid covering the entire study area. All pipes, drains and creeks are included as 1-dimensional elements within this grid.

Full details of the modelling approach, modelling parameters and other assumptions are included in the Flood Model Report, which is included in Appendix A.

Existing Flood Behaviour

Design flood behaviour has been computed for a range of floods, ranging from relatively frequent events to more extreme floods, under existing (2007) catchment conditions. The model produces a grid of results over the study area providing data on flood levels, flood depths and flood velocities. Flood level contours have also been prepared showing contours of equal flood heights throughout the study area. This data is provided digitally and can be overlaid on base mapping such as aerial photos and cadastral plans showing property boundaries.

All flood model results have been provided to Council for incorporation into their GIS computer system. Much of this information is also included as A4 sized plans included in Appendix A.

It is intended to develop a database of properties that are at risk of being affected by flooding as part of the floodplain management study, which is the next phase of the investigations. This will define the problem areas within the catchment and allow an assessment of potential flood mitigation options.

Objectives

Strathfield Municipal Council engaged WMAwater to undertake the Cooks River and Coxs Creek Flood Study utilising current technology and data. The information and results obtained from the study will provide a firm basis for the development of targeted stormwater management studies, and a subsequent Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

The study was developed in order to meet the primary objective of defining the flood behaviour (2, 5, 10, 20, 100 and 200 year ARI design storms and the Probable Maximum Flood) in the Cooks River and Coxs Creek catchment and to: define flood behavior in terms of flood levels, depths, velocities, flows and flood extents within the Cooks River and Coxs Creek catchment study area, prepare flood hazard and flood extent mapping, prepare suitable models of the catchment and floodplain for use in a subsequent Floodplain Risk Management Study. to assess the adequacy and capacity of Council's existing pipe network and quantify overland flows, to consider the potential effects of a climate change induced increase in design rainfall intensities.

This report details the results and findings of the Flood Study investigations. The key elements include:

• description of study area,
• results of distribution of questionnaires (Figure 5),
• a summary of available historical flood related data,
• calibration of the hydrologic and hydraulic models,
• definition of the design flood behaviour for existing conditions through the analysis and interpretation of model results sensitivity analysis and the assessment of the effects of a climate change induced increase in design rainfall intensities.

A glossary of flood related terms is provided in Appendix A.

The Study Area

The Cooks River and Coxs Creek have a combined catchment area of approximately 22km2 contributing up to Punchbowl road. The contributing catchment includes some areas from the suburbs of Strathfield South, Enfield, Enfield South, Rookwood, Belfield, Chullora, Potts Hill, Bankstown North, Greenacre, Punchbowl, Mt Lewis, Wiley Park, Roselands, and Belmore.

Outcomes: The main outcomes of this study are: * full documentation of the methodology and results, * preparation of flood contour, depth, velocity, hazard and extent maps for the study area, * a modelling platform that will form the basis for a subsequent Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

Recommendations: This Flood Study should be adopted by Council before proceeding with the subsequent floodplain risk management Study and Plan. As part of these subsequent studies a risk analysis of the implications of climate change on flooding should be undertaken.

The key recommendation from this study is to highlight the importance of collecting and maintaining a database of historical rainfall and flood height data. It is vital that information from future flood events is collected within 24 hours and the magnitude and direction of flow paths through private property recorded. This information will significantly improve the accuracy of the design flood levels and extents and ensure that known flood areas are identified and assessed. Data collection can be undertaken by Council Officers digitally photographing flood marks etc. (they can be levelled later based on the photograph) and possibly mailing out a resident questionnaire requesting information and photographs. Unfortunately if this process is not done quickly, information is lost forever.

Stormwater within this section is carried within the underground piped network and open channel system, or when this is exceeded, along roads or through private property.

The study area includes that portion of Terrys Creek within the City of Ryde from Terry Road to the creek’s confluence with the Lane Cove River. In addition, as shown in Figure 1, it includes all significant tributaries of Terrys Creek. This report provides a description of the establishment and calibration of a computer model of flood behaviour throughout the study area. This model will become the primary tool for assessing both the existing flood behaviour and the changes which may occur through the implementation of any flood mitigation options that may be proposed during the course of the study. Catchment Areas For the purposes of Council’s management of the stormwater systems within the City of Ryde, the Terrys Creek catchment has been traditionally divided into the Eastwood and Terrys Creek drainage subcatchments. The Ryde component of the Eastwood subcatchment is about 169 hectares in area and extends from the intersection of Marsden Road and Terry Road to Blaxland Rd, Eastwood. The Terrys Creek subcatchment comprises an area of about 326 hectares and extends from the intersection of Blaxland Road and Kings Road to the Lane Cove River. The upstream portion of Terrys Creek (within Parramatta City Council) has an estimated area of 160 hectares, while the remaining portion of the catchment (within Hornsby Shire Council) has an estimated area of 357 hectares. The estimated total area of Terrys Creek is therefore approximately 1012 hectares. The Eastwood town centre is located within the Eastwood subcatchment, and straddles the Main Northern Railway Line (Figures 1 and 2). The railway embankment divides the Eastwood town centre into eastern and western halves. Models The DRAINS software has been used to model the hydrologic regime of the Terrys Creek catchment to its confluence with the Lane Cove River (see Figure 2). DRAINS is a comprehensive hydrologic modelling program for designing and analysing various types of catchments and urban stormwater drainage systems. It also includes some hydraulic modelling capabilities for pipes and overland flowpaths. It was first released in January 1998 and is marketed by Watercom Pty Ltd. The software is widely used in Australia and Council itself has used DRAINS for many years. Following various discussions with Council officers, the widely used and Australian developed TUFLOW model (Reference 9) was chosen as the principal hydraulic modelling tool for use in the study. There were seen to be numerous advantages of using a sophisticated two-dimensional (2D) model such as TUFLOW for simulating flood conditions within Terrys Creek and its tributaries. These advantages included not only the model’s ability to simulate flood flows along a complicated network of overland flowpaths such as occurs in the study area, but also the ability of the model to produce figures to aid community understanding and acceptance of the flood study results. The technical description of the TUFLOW model and its specific application to Terrys Creek is provided in Appendix B. Data and Resources Eastwood & Terrys Creek - Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan - Flood Study Report October 2009pdf (138.1 MB) Flood Study Report October 2009 Explore More information Download