Flood Maps

Fairfield's Flood Plains

Fairfield City sits on a number of flood plains, meaning that many suburbs in the Fairfield Local Government Area are prone to flooding.

Creeks flow into the Georges River and Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchments along a length of 80km in eight major creek lines.

Fairfield City Council has adopted planning controls covering flood prone land in accordance with the NSW Flood Development Manual (2005) and the NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy. These controls are outlined in the Fairfield City Wide Development Control Plan.

The primary objective of the controls is “to reduce the impact of flooding and flood liability on individual owners and occupiers of flood prone property, and to reduce private and public losses resulting from floods, utilising ecologically positive methods wherever possible.”

Floodplains and Flooding

Fairfield City is on a number of floodplains: the lowland adjacent to a river, lake or ocean. 

Being within a floodplain means that many suburbs in the LGA are prone to flooding.

Floodplains are named by the frequency of the flood that is large enough to cover them. For example, the 20-year floodplain will be covered by the 20-year flood and the 100-year floodplain by the 100-year flood. A flood frequency, such as the "100-year flood," is the chance of a flood occurring in a given year, which is the percentage of the probability of flooding each year. For example, the 100-year flood has a 1% chance (ie. 1 chance in 100) of occurring in any given year. Another term used for expressing the likelihood of occurrence of a flood event is the Annual Recurrence Interval (ARI). This is the long term average number of years between the occurrence of a flood as big as the selected event. For example, floods with a discharge as great as the 20 year Annual Recurrence Interval event will occur on average once every 20 years.

Flooding can cause significant damage. In Fairfield, the floodplain is the low-lying land next to the Georges River and the City’s creeks. Major flooding occurred along lower Prospect Creek and Cabramatta Creek in August 1986 and April-May 1988. A smaller flood in January 2001 caused damage to the upper reach of Prospect Creek The 1986 flood caused an estimated total damage of $4.8 million. Studies show that within the northern sector of Prospect Creek, more than 300 properties would be affected by mainstream flooding and over 200 would be flooded above floor level.

Floodplain Risk Management Plans, to protect residents from major flood damages, have been adopted by Council and are listed below. The Plans detail a wide range of structural and non-structural measures that can be used to protect against flooding including Voluntary House Raising, vegetation management of the creeks (keeping them clear of obstructions) and the construction of detention basins and floodways.

The Local Flood Plan for Fairfield City Council has also been prepared by the State Emergency Services (SES) and adopted by the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC). It is a sub-plan of the Local Disaster Plan (DISPLAN). This plan covers preparedness measures, the conduct of response operations and the coordination of immediate recovery measures from flooding within Fairfield City Council. More information about Floodplain Management is available from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website.

 

By clicking on the Flood Policy tab below, you have agreed to read, understand and accept the terms of the Disclaimer before proceeding to the Flood Studies and Maps tab.

Flood Policy and Disclaimer

Council has adopted new planning controls covering flood prone land pursuant to the NSW Flood Development Manual (2005) and the NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy. These controls are outlined in Council's City Wide Development Control Plan. The primary objective of the controls is “to reduce the impact of flooding and flood liability on individual owners and occupiers of flood prone property, and to reduce private and public losses resulting from floods, utilising ecologically positive methods wherever possible”.

General Disclaimer – Flood Studies and Plans

While every effort is made by Fairfield City Council to ensure that accurate information is circulated via this website, Council does so in good faith and makes no representation or give any warranty about the content, suitability or accuracy of the information for any purpose.

Accordingly, use of the information and data contained on this website is at your own risk.

Fairfield City Council does not accept responsibility or liability whether in contract, negligence or other tortious action for any loss, damage or injury you might incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon, the materials/plans which appear or are obtained by or through this website. These plans and flood maps are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, the ultimate and complete source of information on this particular topic.

The Fairfield City website is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Before relying on any material, you should independently verify its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance, and obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances and purpose.

Accordingly, except to the extent permitted by law, Council, it's officers, employees, and agents expressly disclaim liability for any act done or, omission made in, or from the use of this information and any consequences of any such act, omission or use.

Council holds a number of flood studies and investigations that provide documentation of the process by which the various floodplains in the region have been determined. This information and data is however subject to change without notice. These studies and investigations can be downloaded free of charge. Alternatively hard copies are held for viewing at each of Council's customer service centres where you may also purchase a planning certificate pursuant to s. 149(2) and (5) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 with information on flood levels.

Flood information and studies in the Fairfield City Council area are periodically reviewed and updated by the Council. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that the study being referred to is the most current.

The Council provides this flood information as a general reference source only and has taken all reasonable measures to ensure that the material contained in these studies is as accurate as possible at the time of publication.

The Council supports the sharing of flood information and the use of its website content for the purposes of private study, research, or review, as permitted under copyright law. However, reproduction or use of the website content or studies for commercial purposes is not permitted.

The Website is intended only as a general guide. It is not designed to be accurate at the individual property level.

Flood Studies and Maps

Studies and Maps

Adopted Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans

Adopted Mainstream Flood Studies

Adopted Overland Flood Studies

Adopted Flood Planning Maps

Related Information

Back to top