Central Coast Council is committed to keeping our community safe and well-informed about flooding. To achieve this, Council regularly updates Flood Studies and Floodplain Risk Management Plans for all catchments across the Central Coast.

However, Somersby and Kariong represent some of the few locations on the Central Coast that lack detailed flood information altogether, making it important to have a detailed understanding of flood risk in the area.

Council engaged Kellogg Brown and Root to undertake a study. The community were invited to give initial feedback during 2023 to inform modelling and help develop a draft report. This draft report is now open for public exhibition.

This Flood Study is a key step in the Flood Risk Management Process and will help Council make more informed decisions about land use planning and flood risk management to support a safer and more resilient community.

This project is supported by funding from the NSW Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water and is managed in line with the NSW Government’s Flood Prone Land Policy.

A hard copy of the draft report and appendices is also available at Kariong Library.

Have your say

Council is now inviting the community to review the draft report on public exhibition and make a formal submission. Submissions are accepted between Monday 3 November and Monday 1 December 2025, by either:

• online: via the formal submission form below
• post: PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259.

To have your say, be sure to submit your feedback before the exhibition closes.

For community members who experience accessibility challenges, please contact Council’s Project Manager via floodmanagement@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.

Drop-in session

As well as offering an online submission, Council is hosting a drop-in information session during the public exhibition period. This session gives the community an opportunity to ask questions in person and look at the flood maps in more detail. The session details are as follows:

• Wednesday 19 November 2025
• Kariong Youth Hall
• 4:00pm - 6.30pm

Where can I get more information?

For more information about this study, check out the FAQs.

For more information on flooding in general, developing within a flood zone, and the Flood Risk Management process, visit Council’s Floodplain Management page.

Submissions have concluded for the Somersby & Kariong Catchment Overland Flood Study, undertaken by specialist flood consultants, Kellogg Brown & Root. The community questionnaire aimed to help us get a better understanding on the nature of flooding in the area to help inform future planning and management activities. The study area consists of the Kariong residential area, the Somersby industrial area, and the rural residential area immediately to its north (as mapped below). The NSW Government's Department of Planning and Environment are providing financial and technical assistance to help facilitate this project.

The aim of this study was to:

• Develop a baseline understanding of the nature of flooding using the most current information and technologies
• Help better understand local flooding problems
• Build community resilience by informing better planning of development, emergency management and community awareness
• Develop information to assist in future floodplain management activities to reduce flood impacts on the community and risk to life

Community involvement is essential to the success of the floodplain risk management process as it enables the community to:

• Contribute local knowledge of flood behaviour
• Directly influence strategic planning for development in flood prone areas

As a result, we received your feedback for this Flood Study between Monday 21 August and Friday 22 September 2023 via online submission form and email.

During the development of the Floodplain Risk Management Plan, residents will have further opportunities to help decide which flood mitigation measures they think are best for their local community. All survey information will remain confidential and will only be used for floodplain risk management purposes.

When providing feedback to Council your attention is drawn to the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 which allows for possible access to certain public and personal documentation. View our privacy statement.

Council is reviewing the community feedback received and will place the Flood Study on public exhibition for final feedback. Council will then prepare and finalise the Flood Study, and present back to Council for adoption. Those who make submissions will be notified prior to the Council Report being considered.

We will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.