Flood work approvals

To start the process of applying for a flood work approval, WaterNSW require all applicants to book a pre-application meeting. During the pre-application meeting, WaterNSW will discuss the details of the proposed application with you (and/or your consultant) and provide general advice in relation to the assessment process.

WaterNSW can also assist you in checking the provisions of the applicable floodplain management plan (FMP). Where no FMP exists, WaterNSW can assist you to understand the requirements within the Technical Guideline for flood work applications in areas with no FMP.

Book a pre-application meeting with WaterNSW. You can schedule a pre-application meeting by indicating your preferred date/s on the Request for a flood work pre-application meeting form (PDF, 296.62 KB) or by booking a meeting online and selecting the 'flood work'. If booking online, please ensure the completed pre-application meeting form is completed and emailed to WaterNSW as the information you provide on this form will allow us to fully understand and discuss your new or existing flood work.

What to expect at the pre-application meeting?

WaterNSW will discuss your proposal with you, together with the provisions of the applicable floodplain management plan (FMP). Where no FMP exists, WaterNSW can assist you to understand the requirements within the Technical Guideline for flood work applications in areas with no FMP.

Following this meeting, should a flood study (hydraulic modelling report) be required, WaterNSW will provide you with the required inflow data to facilitate completion of a modelling report. You may then be required to engage a certified Hydraulic Modeller to complete a report and submit this to WaterNSW with your flood work approval application.

What is a flood study?

A flood study may be requested if you want to apply to construct and use a non-compliant flood work, a flood work in a zone which does not permit such a work or a flood work outside a FMP area but still within a floodplain.

If a flood study is required, it must be prepared by a suitably qualified person and address the following:

• potential impacts of flood works on other landholders
• analysis of existing and future risk to human life and property arising from proposed work
• identification of the existing and natural flooding regimes in the area, in terms of the frequency, duration, nature and extent of flooding
• risk to life and property from the effects of flooding
• potential impacts or changes on the flow of water to or from a river, estuary or lake, the passage, flow and distribution of floodwater, existing dominant floodways and exits from floodways, rates of flow, floodwater levels and duration of inundation, downstream water flows and the natural flood regimes.

• Complete a flood study (if required). To assist in completing a flood study, you may wish to use our WaterNSW flood study template PDF, 916.65 KB (a word version DOCX, 377.46 KB is also available should you wish to rebrand the document as required).
• Once the flood study has been completed (if required), an Application for a flood work approval (PDF, 503.79 KB) may now be lodged.
• Complete the Application for a flood work approval (PDF, 503.79 KB) (include the flood study, if required) Please refer to the Guide for an application for a flood work approval  (PDF, 261.89 KB) when completing the application form.
• Check Application fees which will be charged.

WaterNSW will:

• check all relevant details have been provided - please note incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant/s.
• advertise the application if required by the Water Management Act 2000 (WMA).
• complete all searches required e.g. presence of Threatened species (PDF, 264.42 KB), Native Title claims, NSW Heritage etc.
• contact the applicant/s and arrange a field inspection if required.

WaterNSW will have any flood study provided independently assessed, and this assessment will be based on the flood study submitted with the application.

WaterNSW will determine whether to grant this application with the appropriate conditions or refuse it. Applicants will be advised in writing of the determination and, if granted, a flood work approval will be issued.

A flood work approval allows you to construct and use a flood work at the specified location as authorised by the approval.

What do you need to do?

• Ensure you review your Statement of Approval which lists all conditions that apply to your flood work.
• Once the work has been constructed notify WaterNSW using the Notify WaterNSW of completion of flood work form (PDF, 649.48 KB) within 2 months of completion or amendment.

Note: It is an offence under the WMA to contravene a term or condition of an approval. The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) is responsible for compliance with water law in NSW, including ensuring compliance with conditions on water access licenses (WALs) and approvals.

Flood work approvals help to manage water on floodplains. Approvals for a flood work are governed by floodplain management plans (FMPs) and their rules, which specify the types of flood work that may be constructed within that management zone.

Applicants for flood work approvals may be required to submit a flood study report to demonstrate that a flood work meets the criteria as outlined in the plan.

FMPs in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin do not include a specific requirement for a flood study to be completed as part of the assessment and determination of applications for flood works in management zone C or CU.

In relation to management Zone C or CU, flood studies will be required in Zone C or CU where:

• The proposed works have potential to impact high value infrastructure when compared to the existing development conditions, or
• There are existing works in the vicinity that have a limited height condition, or
• Where modifying an existing approval, the proposal includes re-alignment to the outer protection banks, creating a new or restoring an old flow path, or
• The area has been identified by NSW The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW) as requiring further investigation and possible amendment in relation to the management zone designation.
• Where the flood works may not satisfy the relevant clauses of the Floodplain Management Plan for Zone C.
• In other instances where WaterNSW deems a flood study to be required.

Floodplain boundary, management zones and ecological assets - for the northern valleys is now published on The Central Resource for Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data in NSW (SEED) and the NSW DCCEEW interactive map.

The data is published as a map service, rather than downloadable shapefiles or geodatabases.

For instructions on how to add ArcGIS Server map services, refer to the following ESRI instructions. This is helpful for landholders or their consultants who want to view the data in ArcMap or ArcGIS PRO.

There are many areas across NSW where there are no existing floodplain management plans (FMP). For these areas, a Technical guideline for flood work applications in areas without a FMP is available.

Please find further information on how floodplain management plans work, how they are prepared and the process of community consultation on the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's website.