Northern Floodplain Risk Management Committee - 30/06/2026

Topics

• Flood committee backs Lower Shoalhaven River risk plan
  Flood committee backs the Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan for Council adoption.
  Adoption would provide the strategic basis for future flood mitigation, risk-reduction work and funding applications across the study area.
• Broughton Creek flood study delayed after funding setback
  Broughton Creek flood planning is delayed after Council funding was not approved for the upcoming financial year.
  No interim works are planned because of limited resources, leaving the project dependent on future Council funding and a possible grant application.
• Flood project rankings put life-safety risks ahead of localised flooding
  Hay Avenue remains the higher flood-risk priority while Zealand Creek is upgraded to medium priority after strong community support.
  The ranking guides funding applications and project sequencing, although Council can still pursue medium-priority projects at its discretion.

Decisions

• Lower Shoalhaven River flood plan endorsed
  The Committee endorsed the Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2026) for Council adoption. The recommendation will be considered by Council in a separate City Services report.
  The plan is intended to guide future flood-risk reduction, mitigation projects and funding applications in the Lower Shoalhaven River area.
• Broughton Creek flood study deferred
  No Council contribution was approved for the Broughton Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan in the upcoming financial year, preventing a grant application. The project will be reconsidered in the next funding cycle.
  The study is delayed, no interim works are planned because of limited resources, and a grant application may be possible in May 2027 if Council co-contribution funding is secured.

Discussion

• Flood mitigation project prioritisation
  The Committee discussed how flood mitigation projects are ranked and clarified that prioritisation informs funding applications but does not prevent Council from progressing medium-priority works.
  Residents may see projects progress in a different order from the published ranking, depending on risk reduction, cost-benefit outcomes, funding opportunities and community support.
• Requirements for flood mitigation funding
  DCCEEW advised that funding applications place greater weight on cost-benefit outcomes and overall risk reduction, while having an adopted Flood Risk Management Plan is more important than whether an action is ranked medium or high.
  An adopted plan may improve Council’s prospects of obtaining external funding for future flood mitigation projects.

Impacts

• The Lower Shoalhaven River flood plan will proceed to Council for consideration and may support future mitigation works and funding applications.
• Hay Avenue remains a higher-priority project because it addresses life-safety risks associated with flood isolation.
• Zealand Creek has been upgraded from low to medium priority, but no guarantee of immediate works was given.
• Broughton Creek has no interim works planned and may not receive a grant application until May 2027, subject to Council co-contribution funding.

Places

• Lower Shoalhaven River (river and floodplain area)
  Floodplain risk management study and plan area recommended for Council adoption
• Hay Avenue (road/project area)
  Project prioritised for its role in reducing life-safety risks from flood isolation
• Zealand Creek (creek/project area)
  Flood mitigation project upgraded from low to medium priority because of community support and localised flooding concerns
• Broughton Creek (creek/project area)
  Floodplain risk management study and plan deferred to a future funding cycle
• Nowra (town)
  Meeting venue and Council administrative centre

Next

• City Services to submit the endorsed Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2026) to Council through a separate report.
  After the 30 June 2026 Committee meeting; exact date not specified
• Reconsider the Broughton Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan in the next funding cycle and pursue a grant application if a Council co-contribution is secured.
  Potential grant application in May 2027
• Publish the information presented about flood project prioritisation with the meeting minutes on Council’s website.
  With publication of the minutes

Extract

Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE NORTHERN FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Meeting Date: Tuesday, 30 June 2026 Location: Jervis Bay Room, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra Time: 4.01pm The following members were present: Clr Selena Clancy - Chairperson Mr John Gould Mr David Brawn (Remote) Others present: Mr Colin Bron – NSW State Emergency Service (Remote) Ms Amanda Pollock – NSW State Emergency Service (Remote) – joined 4:05pm Mr Nathan Pomfret – (DCCEEW) Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (Remote) Mr Luke Evans - Rhelm (Remote) Mr Oscar Garrat – Rhelm (Remote) Mr Craig Exton – Manager – Technical Services Mr Micaiah Tipton – Civil Infrastructu...