Wollongong is naturally prone to flooding.
Our location between the mountains and the sea means flash flooding can often happen as water travels down the escarpment towards the ocean.
We work in line with the NSW Government’s guidelines for managing floodplains to reduce the impact of flooding.
You can read about our research, planning and implementation for your area using the links on our Catchments page.
You can also check out our Flooding in Wollongong YouTube playlist for more videos.
Flooding and your property
Property owners play a big role in managing flooding, both on their own land and across our city.
Use these links to access some of the flood-related information Council may hold for your property:
- Apply for Flood Information (past and expected flood levels for a property)
- Apply for a Planning Certificate to find out if Council has identified your property as flood affected.
Some flood-related information can also be viewed using Council's online maps:
Floods can have a big impact on our community. Some people want to know why Council doesn’t fix the problem. This video explains why we can’t stop floods from happening and what we do to help reduce the impact of floods on our community.
You can also check out our Flooding in Wollongong YouTube playlist for more videos.
These are some ways you can help keep floodwater out of your property:
- Keep your gutters and downpipes clear so water can flow freely into the stormwater system.
- Make sure you don’t put anything along a waterway or stormwater drain that could get washed into the water. This can include grass clippings, other garden cuttings or chemicals. Remove any obstacles alongside a waterway that could cause blockages or divert stormwater, such as:
- Stockpiled building materials
- Car parts
- Garden furniture
- Toys
- Gardening equipment
- Play equipment
- Big piles of mulch, rocks or soil
- Shopping trolleys
- Bins.
- Take care when planting trees. Certain species with aggressive root systems can cause stormwater pipes to become blocked or cracked.
- Talk to Council about your plans to build on your land, alter your driveway or footpath levels, fill low-lying areas of your yard or divert a watercourse. Unapproved work can increase flooding for both you and your neighbours.
- Large, paved areas will increase runoff, so you may need extra drainage.
- If you own a property in a flood-prone area, consider getting professional advice from your own engineer and getting it flood proofed. This can mean doing works such as coating the building in waterproof sealants or plastic sheeting or sealing doors and windows below the flood level to prevent or minimise damage from future floods.
Stormwater issues are a common problem for many residents due to our city's climate and topography. In some cases, it can cause disputes between neighbours.
In many cases, Council doesn't get involved in stormwater disputes between neighbours. However, we will investigate in some circumstances, if:
- There is evidence that the surface water has caused, or is likely to cause, physical damage to land or buildings
- The surface water has been directed towards a particular area by a man-made structure or drain, and
- The surface water is the result of defective roof drainage from a dwelling or outbuilding such as a garage.
For more information or to report an issue, see our Drains and Stormwater Pits page.
Managing flooding across our city
Council works to manage flooding across our city in several different ways.
A catchment is an area that naturally collects water as it flows through the landscape. Wollongong’s catchments often have one or more main waterways – such as creeks or rivulets – that carry water towards the sea.
Visit our Catchments page for information about our research, plans and work on catchments in your area.
Council carries out regular maintenance on many creeks, waterways and stormwater structures that are on public land.
You can see details of planned flood-related works over the next four years on our Future Works pages.
Bridges, culverts and stormwater channels can become blocked during floods. Understanding how blockage is likely to affect floodwater is a key part of our research and planning for floods.
To find our more, read Chapter E13 of the Wollongong Development Control Plan PDF, 1824.81 KB
A small number of the flood detention basins managed by Council are classified as 'Declared Dams'.
We regularly inspect and report on Declared Dams. To learn more and read our annual reports, see our Declared Dams Reports page.
You can also check out our Flooding in Wollongong YouTube playlist for more videos.
SES (State Emergency Service) information in community languages
Visit the SES website to find information about floods and storms in your language.