The subject area is located along the MacDonald River within the town of Bendemeer, situated approximately 40km north-east of Tamworth. The catchment leading to the town of Bendemeer has an area of about 1140 square kilometres. The shape of the catchment is unusually narrow, with the MacDonald River dominating from the upper reaches through Woolbrook, Bendemeer, and further downstream towards Retreat.

The primary objective of the Flood Study for the town of Bendemeer was to develop hydrologic and hydraulic models for mainstream flooding and flooding from the main tributaries within the modelling area, and to provide information on flood extents, water levels, flows and velocities for a range of flood events, including 5 year ARI, 10%, 2%, 1%, 0.5% AEP and Probable Maximum Flood events.

Further objectives were to identify hydraulic and preliminary hazard categories for the 1% AEP and PMF events, including the flood emergency response classification of communities, and to determine Flood Planning Levels based on the 1% AEP event plus 0.5m freeboard. Flood damages were also required to be assessed under existing catchment and floodplain conditions.