Kempsey CBD Flood Risk Management Study and Plan

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Consultation has concluded

The Kempsey CBD and surrounding residential areas are located on the flow paths of the Macleay River and while protected from small flood events by constructed levee systems, significant inundation can be experienced when the levee is overtopped. Council is responsible for planning and managing this flood prone land to ensure that development is not subject to unnecessary risk, while not restricting development where the risks are acceptable.

The Draft Kempsey CBD Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan now on public exhibition, takes into consideration a range of possible scenarios and recommends potential management actions.

A Hydraulic Report undertaken in 2015 and the preparation of the of the draft Kempsey Flood Risk Management Study and Plan has enabled Council to review and update previous flood assessments for the CBD and surrounding urban areas, and use the latest data and modelling techniques to gain a greater understanding of likely flood behaviour.

Council encourage the community to

The Draft Study and Plan have been developed in accordance with the NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy and Floodplain Development Manual (2005) and received financial and technical assistance from the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Public exhibition of the draft Flood Risk Management Study closed on 24 February 2017. A report will be presented to Council in coming months.



The Kempsey CBD and surrounding residential areas are located on the flow paths of the Macleay River and while protected from small flood events by constructed levee systems, significant inundation can be experienced when the levee is overtopped. Council is responsible for planning and managing this flood prone land to ensure that development is not subject to unnecessary risk, while not restricting development where the risks are acceptable.

The Draft Kempsey CBD Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan now on public exhibition, takes into consideration a range of possible scenarios and recommends potential management actions.

A Hydraulic Report undertaken in 2015 and the preparation of the of the draft Kempsey Flood Risk Management Study and Plan has enabled Council to review and update previous flood assessments for the CBD and surrounding urban areas, and use the latest data and modelling techniques to gain a greater understanding of likely flood behaviour.

Council encourage the community to

The Draft Study and Plan have been developed in accordance with the NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy and Floodplain Development Manual (2005) and received financial and technical assistance from the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Public exhibition of the draft Flood Risk Management Study closed on 24 February 2017. A report will be presented to Council in coming months.



Consultation has concluded

  • Recommended Future Flood Management Actions

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    This table is an excerpt from the Draft Flood Risk Management Plan and shows the prioritised actions that have been recommended as part of the Plan's implementation. The table also shows benefits, costs and responsibilities for each of the recommended actions.

    Table 1 - Recommended Actions

  • Figure 8 - I in 100 year flood model

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    This image depict the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) Peak Flood Depths and Levels for the whole study area. Historically this was referred to as the 1 in 100 year flood.

    This is a benchmark figure in flood terminology which is used to derive other flood control measures used in land use planning, such as the Flood Planning Levels and Flood Planning Area. It should be noted that the 1 in 100 year event is a measure of intensity not frequency.

    The Flood Planning Levels are a combination of the flood levels (1%AEP) and freeboards selected for floodplain risk management purposes.

    The Flood Planning Area is an area subject to development controls, which for the Kempsey Study area is the 1% AEP plus .500m.

    Figure 8 - 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP)

  • Figure 9 - 1 in 100 year flood, Kempsey Urban Areas

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    This image is a zoomed in depiction of the Kempsey Urban Areas for the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of peak flood depths and levels, traditionally referred to as the 1 in 100 year flood event.

    This image has the same significance as Figure 8 showing the whole study area.

    The 1% AEP is a benchmark figure in flood terminology which is used to derive other flood control measures used in land use planning, such as the Flood Planning Levels and Flood Planning Area.

    The Flood Planning Levels are a combination of the flood levels (1%AEP) and freeboards selected for floodplain risk management purposes.

    The Flood Planning Area is an area subject to development controls, which for the Kempsey Study area is the 1% AEP plus .500m.

    Figure 9 - 1% AEP Peak Flood Depths and Levels for Kempsey Urban Area

  • Figure 12 - Hydraulic Floodway Land Use

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    This map incorporates the findings from the modelling and the study and indicates areas within the study area which are recommended for review as they are no longer considered to be part of the flood way.

    If Council adopts the plan and the actions in Table 1, Council will review the zonings within the study area and rezone land identified in yellow from E2 to another suitable zone.

    Ultimately there will be less restrictions on the type of development that may be undertaken in those yellow areas.

    Figure 12 - Hydraulic Floodway and Land Use


  • Figure 23 - Flood Planning Area

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    This image shows the recommended Flood Planning Area for Kempsey based on the updated study.

    This is the area in which existing and future Flood Planning Controls will apply. This map represents a significant increase in confidence on the location of the flood planning area within the study area.

    Currently there is no definitive map of the Flood Planning Area in the study area, with the Flood Planning Area being defined using a variety of less technical methods.

    Figure 23 - Flood Planning Area