May 2021 community consultation
Tweed Shire Council, with support from the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), has engaged flood specialists WMAwater to update and expand the Tweed Valley Flood Study.
An initial community survey closed on Sunday 30 May 2021 and the information we received is being considered as we develop the draft flood study. Further community consultation will be conducted once a draft study report has been completed, which is expected in mid 2023.
There's a long history of flooding in the Tweed Valley. The major flood event in March 2017, a result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie, had widespread and devastating impacts on our community, property, business, industry and public infrastructure.
Then, in February and March 2022, major flooding occurred on the NSW Far North Coast causing record flooding in many parts of the Tweed Valley again causing widespread and devastating impacts on our community, property, business, industry and public infrastructure. The decision was made to extend the project to incorporate the data and lessons learned from the 2022 flood event.\
This project is funded under the NSW and Commonwealth Government's Natural Disaster Resilience Program.
What is a flood study?
A flood study is a technical investigation of the flood behaviour for a region. Flood studies comprise computer models to simulate historical and design flood events in the region.
Past historical flood events provide recorded flood data (rainfall amounts, water levels and flows) and community experiences, which are used to calibrate and verify the models.
The study will help define flood behaviour under current and future climate conditions. This technical information forms the basis to understand flood risk and management options in future floodplain risk management studies and plans.
Why do we need another flood study?
The previous flood study, completed in 2009, is being updated and expanded to include new areas.
Flooding is not confined to one part of the Tweed Valley and we want to extend our understanding of flooding to include the upper parts of the valley, including the villages of Tyalgum, Chillingham, Uki and the surrounding rural areas.
Map showing the original 2009 flood study area and the expansion area.Recent advances in the hydrology field and new flood records from March 2017 and February/March 2022 provide a good opportunity to improve our understanding of flood behaviour in the valley.
What are the different flood types?
The Tweed Valley is about 1100 km2 and incorporates a range of landscapes including steep channelised valleys, floodplains and coastal estuaries. This variation in landscapes creates three defined types of flooding:
- riverine flooding is caused when the flow of water bursts the banks of creeks or rivers
- storm surge flooding is an abnormal rise in sea water level due to a storm
- overland stormwater is generated by rainfall running off towards the drainage or creek system.
Community consultation
In early 2021, we called on Tweed Valley residents to share their personal experience and knowledge to help us understand past flood events.
The initial survey concluded on Sunday 30 May 2021 and is being considered as we develop the flood study.
Your feedback has been provided to WMAwater to analyse and include in the Tweed Valley Flood Study update and expansion.
If you have any questions or would like to provide additional information or photos please contact:
Further community consultation will be conducted once a draft study report has been completed, which is expected in mid 2023.
If you have any questions or would like to provide additional information or photos please contact:
Leon McLean
Engineer – Flood and Stormwater
Email: tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 6670 2400
