Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) was commissioned to undertake a flood plain management study for the town of Cooma. WRC studies had previously led to the publication in 1980 of a Flood Inundation Map for Cooma and Cooma Back Creeks at Cooma. This formed the basis for consideration of development applications by the Cooma-Monaro Shire Council, in consultation with WRC, prior to the present study which would not only examine a flood mitigation strategy but also produce working details for the implementation of recommended measures.

The aim of the study was to define the flood magnitudes, determine the existing situation of potential flooding, and define and cost flood mitigation options with a view to specific recommendations for both structural and non-structural measures.