Agenda of Flood Management Advisory Committee

Flood Management Advisory Committee Meeting

13 May 2026

Minutes of the Flood Risk Management Advisory Committee Meeting 4 March 2026

Directorate Name	Infrastructure
Date / Time	4 March 2026 – 3:30pm
Venue	Microsoft Teams
Chairperson	Councillor Andrew Blake
Voting Attendees	Clr Mat Howard * (joined 4:07pm)	Clr Andrew Blake	Michael Carney (SES)
	David Chick	Matthew Murphy	Jaan Ranniko
	Bowen Hicks
Non – Voting Technical Advisory Attendees	Peter Shields (IWC)	David Paton (IWC)	Rafaah Georges (IWC)
Non – Voting Technical Advisory Attendees	James Ogg (IWC)	Hans Meijer (IWC)
Observers	Tiffanie Ong (IWC)	Martin Griffin (Stantec)	Amir Montakhab (Stantec)
Observers	David Grasby (Sydney Water)	Robert Baker (SES)	Richard Murphy (DCCEEW)
Apologies	Tim Harnett	Emily McGrath	Pilar Lorenzo
Apologies	Simon Myall

1. 2. Acknowledgement Of Country – Clr Blake

I acknowledge that we are meeting on the land of the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation and pay my respects to the elders past and present and I extend that respect and acknowledgement to any Aboriginal people who are here with us today.

3. Disclosures of Interest

Nil.

4. Confirmation of Minutes of 26 November 2026 Flood Management Advisory Committee

Minutes confirmed by Clr Andrew Blake, seconded by Michael Carney.

5. Staff Reports

FMACC0326(1) Item 1 ; FLOOD MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT

SUMMARY

In November 2025 the Flood Management Advisory Committee resolved to have the Committee terms of reference further amended to enable members of the public to address the Committee on any agenda item. The terms of reference have been further amended to incorporate arrangements that detail how members of the public may speak to an agenda item at the start of any Flood Management Advisory Committee meeting. This report recommends that the Flood Management Advisory Committee endorse changes to the Committee Terms of Reference.

OFFICERS RECOMMENDATION

The Flood Management Advisory Committee receive and note the report

DISCUSSION

In the November 2025 Flood Advisory Meeting, it was resolved to have the Committee Terms of Reference amended, resulting in wording amendment of section 7.4. Peter confirms the edit was made to the first sentence of the first two lines of the previous Terms of Reference only.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

Councillor Blake moves amended terms of reference be adopted, seconded by Michael Carney.

For Motion: Unanimous

FMACC0326(1) Item 2 ; SOUTH MARRICKVILLE FLOOD STUDY - STATUS UPDATE

SUMMARY

The South Marrickville Flood Study is the final primary catchment within the Local Government Area requiring a flood study. It covers areas within southern Dulwich Hill and south-west Marrickville, generally bound by New Canterbury Road and Garnet Avenue, draining to the Cooks River. Work to prepare the flood study commenced in December 2025 and it is being delivered over 18 months. The project is currently on track, with data review substantially progressed and the data collection phase now underway. Council commenced the first planned community consultation period on 9 February, with a closing date of 15 March 2026. Consultation and engagement activities include letters to residents, information updates, a survey and face to face public meetings. This report provides a status update on progress to date for the South Marrickville Flood Study and confirms further details relating to forthcoming activities.

OFFICERS RECOMMENDATION

The Flood Management Advisory Committee receive and note the report

DISCUSSION

The South Marrickville Flood Study has commenced, and consultation has begun, Council has sent out letters to approximately 6500 residents and business owners within the catchment to provide feedback regarding experience with flooding within the area. The flood study will be carried out over a year and a half in line with DCCEEW guidelines. To date approximately 20 emails and 8 phone calls have been received, Council has an online ‘have your say’ page for feedback, videos and photos which will be collected to contribute to the flood study being undertaken.

The South Marrickville Flood Study is anticipated to be carried out over 8 stages, and anticipated to have 3 community engagement sessions. The first community engagement stage has commenced between stages 1 & 2 and runs for 28 days with possibility of extension to accommodate for in-person sessions. There are 2 in person sessions for the first community engagement commencing Thursday 5 March in the afternoon and another on Tuesday 10 March in the evening. Council will have staff and consultants present to assist with answering questions raised by members of the community. It is advised in terms of anticipated future consultations, as per the diagram, at stage 4, once modelling has been undertaken, Council will go back to the community for further feedback and present the mapping and modelling thus far. This will provide an opportunity for community to engage with Council and the consultants. The final stage of consultation will occur around Stage 6; Council will have a public exhibition in relation to the draft document that has been created.

Amir from Stantec notes the South Marrickville Flood Study examines flooding within the areas as being driven by a combination of mechanisms. Stantec advises Council is updating the flood information to support community safety and awareness, emergency response and evacuation planning, land use planning and development assessment and to identify for future flood risk and reduction opportunities where practical. Stantec is seeking to represent the current conditions as accurately as practical through use of updated trend information and current asset conditions to ensure the results are fit for the purpose of today’s planning and emergency management needs.

The study area being covered is approximately 200 hectares surrounded with low lying areas near the Cooks River. The flood study carried out by Stantec will provide a clear understanding of flood behaviour across the catchment; where the water goes, how deep it gets, what are the hazards, where the key flow paths and key problem areas are. Along with delivering flood maps for a range of storm events, and documented in the technical flood study report to support council decision making, community information and future planning.

Stantec will undertake a site inspection to confirm key feature, risk and flow path control in the catchment. Finalisation and review of the community consultation matter for engagement to proceed and commencement to build the initial hydrological and hydraulic model within the scope that Stantec have.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Flood Management Advisory Committee receive and note the report.

For Motion: Unanimous

7. General Business

David Paton raised information regarding flooding from the previous week. Multiple main arterial roads were affected, many of these being state roads. Flooding was observed on the City West Link in Haberfield, Parramatta Road in Summer Hill, Sloane Street and along Sydenham Road where multiple locations of flooding were recorded. Local roads included Riverside Crescent, Hawthorne Parade and Ramsay Street Haberfield, Fraser Street Marrickville and Marrickville Road. Council did not receive many complaints or requests as a result, but it is noted there was a fair bit of localised flooding.

Michael Carney raised that significant flooding occurred along Illawarra Road, David advises Council was not made aware of this. Robert Baker notes significant flooding occurred at Riverside Crescent and two flood rescues were carried out. Photos and videos will be supplied at the consultation meeting. Clr Blake notes Liberty Street Stanmore where flooding occurred and water running uphill.

James Ogg advises Council carried out substantial works at Dibble Avenue water hole a few years ago to rectify erosion and subsidence that occurred at the location to restore it and provide stabilisation to the buildings. Railway Parade is a State Road and Council continues to advocate for upgrades at this location, and James Ogg advised this will be followed up. The Department of Planning is currently putting on exhibition a proposed new planning policy to bring together climate change and natural hazards into a current state environmental planning policy; this is currently being worked through with the strategic planners and its impacts to make a submission on Council’s behalf.

James notes, for members of the committee, to view what is being proposed and a link will be supplied for feedback to be provided. As part of wider state flood management, a current project by DCCEEW looks at large catchments that Council’s sub catchments fall within. Richard Murphy encourages Council to document the recent flood event, as the information is relevant for subsequent flood studies. The NSW Government has acquired funding, and a number of key projects are being undertaken, one of which being the Valley Level Flood Risk Management Assessments. The National Flood Warning Infrastructure Network program is another initiative currently being worked on with the BOM, funding has been provided seeking to upgrade flood warning systems across Australia. Richard also speaks of the Climate Change and Natural Hazards SEPP currently on exhibition, from a flooding perspective, is the importance this takes on climate change. The new SEPP recommends picking a climate change scenario fit for purpose.

Richard advises the next round of flood plain management program grants are set to open within the next 2 weeks and will be open for 6 weeks. Should Council have anything they wish to apply for, Richard is available to assist with putting a grant together.

Martin Griffin recommends Council organise with SES representative to compile flood photos and flood records from the flooding event last week to calibrate a model to. James will organise a meeting next week with Michael Carney and the local area commanders.

Meeting Closed 4:22pm

Flood Management Advisory Committee Meeting

13 May 2026

Item No: FMACC0526(1) Item 1

Subject: South Marrickville Flood Study - Community Consultation Outcome

Prepared By: Lauren Vallejo - Stormwater Asset Planning Engineer

Authorised By: Manod Wickramasinghe - Acting Director Engineering

RECOMMENDATION

That the Flood Management Advisory Committee receive and note the report on the South Marrickville Flood Study community consultation outcomes.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

1: An ecologically sustainable Inner West

2: Liveable, connected neighbourhoods and transport

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Under the NSW Floodplain Management Policy, local councils are primarily responsible for managing flood-prone land. This includes undertaking studies to understand flood risk, assessing management options, keeping the community informed about flooding, supporting emergency management planning, and considering flood impacts on flood-prone land through appropriate development controls.

There are nine stormwater catchments in the Inner West Local Government Area with dedicated flood studies. The South Marrickville Flood Study is the final catchment requiring a flood study. The South Marrickville catchment covers areas within southern Dulwich Hill and south-west Marrickville, generally bound by New Canterbury Road and Garnet Avenue, draining to the Cooks River. The objective of the flood study is to improve Council’s understanding of flood behaviour across the catchment. Once the flood study is adopted, Council will plan to commission a Flood Risk Management Study and Plan for the same catchment area.

Work to prepare the South Marrickville Flood Study commenced in December 2025 and is being progressively delivered in eight stages over 18 months. The project is on track, with Stage 1 - Data Review and Stage 2 – Data Collection now completed, including the first planned community consultation held between 9 February and 15 March, 2026. Consultation and engagement activities included letters to residents, a ‘Have Your Say’ webpage, a survey of flood experiences and in-person consultation sessions.

The project is now planning to progress to Stage 3 – Base Model, where development of a base flood model for the study area will be prepared.

PURPOSE

This report provides a project update and summary of outcomes from the first round of planned South Marrickville Flood Study community consultation held 9 February to 15 March 2026.

BACKGROUND

Council engaged Stantec as its specialist consultant to assist with the preparation of the South Marrickville Flood Study. The project will be delivered across eight stages over 18 months, with designated holds points for community consultation during Stage 2 – Data Collection, Stage 4 – Design Runs and Maps, and Stage 6 – Public Exhibition.

Each planned community consultation period will be coordinated and delivered by Council, with assistance from Stantec. Outcomes from each community consultation period will be reviewed and considered in the staged development of the South Marrickville Flood Study.

The diagram below presents the eight stages of the project program.

Figure 1. South Marrickville Flood Study Project Program

The first planned community consultation during Stage 2 was held from 9 February to 15 March 2026. A draft outcomes report of the community consultation has been provided to Stantec for review and consideration when progressing the project and developing the flood study.

DISCUSSION

Local knowledge is essential in addressing flood issues, as it helps build an understanding of where flooding occurs and how it affects the community. The information and data gathered in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the project, including information and feedback received during the first planned community consultation, will inform the development of the flood study including the following:

· Support emergency services in planning for and responding to flood events

· Assist Council in establishing appropriate planning and development controls

· Improve the resilience of infrastructure to flooding

· Guide flood risk management in accordance with NSW Government requirements

The first planned community consultation was held from 9 February to 15 March 2026. Consultation and engagement activities included:

· Notification letters sent to affected residents, property owners and businesses

· General project information

· Survey hosted on Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ webpage

· Two, in-person consultation sessions attended by Council and Stantec representatives

· Opportunity for feedback via Council’s flood specific email address

Two additional community consultation periods are planned to be undertaken at Stage 4 – Design Runs and Maps, to exhibit flood affected areas, and at Stage 6 – Public Exhibition, to exhibit the final draft flood study.

During the first round of community consultation between 9 February to 15 March 2026, the community was invited to provide feedback and local knowledge of where flooding occurs and what impacts it has on the community within the South Marrickville Catchment. Respondents were asked to share their experiences of the February 2022 and April 2024 storm events, including:

· Where flooding occurred

· How deep the flooding was and how long the flooding lasted

· Any impacts experienced (e.g. property inundation, road closures, restriction in access)

· Photos or videos of flooding experienced

Key community feedback from the consultation identified local streets and areas that experience recurring flooding during high-intensity rainfall events.

Overall, the community expressed strong support for the South Marrickville Flood Study and development of flood modelling to inform future flood mitigation strategies. Details of the consultation methods and engagement response are provided in the attached draft South Marrickville Flood Study Engagement Outcomes Report.

Council will consider the information collected during community consultation to identify key concerns and recurring flood issues, which will inform refinements to the study scope and underlying assumptions. Following this, the engaged consultants will develop hydrologic and hydraulic models to simulate flood behaviour under a range of scenarios.

The model outputs will be translated into draft findings and a second round of community consultation will be undertaken. The community will have opportunity to review and provide feedback on draft flood maps, helping to validate or challenge the findings. Feedback received in the planned second round of community consultation will inform refinements to the modelling, leading to the preparation of a draft South Marrickville Flood Study report.

Residents, property owners and community members will be notified of the second community consultation and opportunity for feedback.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The total external cost of the South Marrickville Flood Study is jointly funded by Inner West Council and NSW Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) through the Floodplain Risk Management Program. There are no financial implications of this report presenting the outcomes of community consultation held as part of the South Marrickville Flood Study project.

CONCLUSION

The South Marrickville Flood Study project has reached completion of Stage 1 – Data Review and Stage 2 – Data Collection, including the first planned community consultation held 9 February to 15 March 2026.

The level of engagement achieved during the consultation period was positive, with participation and feedback received via all methods of consultation.

Outcomes of community consultation demonstrated the communities interest and support for the South Marrickville Flood Study and development of flood modelling to inform flood mitigation strategies.

Key community feedback identified local streets and areas that experience recurring flooding during high-intensity rainfall events, and this was supported by photos and videos received from residents.

The engaged specialist consultant, Stantec, has been provided with a draft community consultation outcomes report and has commenced Stage 3 – Base Model Build, to establish the initial flood model that will be the base for the flood study.

Further community consultation is planned to be undertaken at Stage 4 – Design Runs and Maps, to exhibit flood affected areas, and at Stage 6 – Public Exhibition, to exhibit the final draft flood study.

ATTACHMENTS

1.⇩

DRAFT South Marrickville Flood Study Engagement Outcomes Report