In 1978 the Commonwealth and State Governments initiated a series of floodplain management studies for the major coastal rivers of New South Wales. The thirteen studies carried out by various consultants under the supervision of a Steering Committee did not include the Bega Valley. This study seeks to redress the situation, and the report has been prepared so as to be consistent with revised Government Flood Policy.

The study's initial phase consisted of collecting and analysing all available flood-related data within the valley. This was undertaken and the information plotted on overlay maps. The second phase of the study, detailed in this report, outlines the extent of the flood problem generally in the valley. It considers in broad terms the various flood mitigation options to reduce or eliminate the identified problems.