Flooding, either from mainstream or overland flows, is not a regular occurrence in the Eurobodalla Shire and many residents have not experienced flooding of any significant proportions. As such, the residents and commercial operators in the area will not be flood aware and likely to be adversely affected in a flood event. With an increasing demand for residential properties, particularly in coastal towns and villages, it is also likely that future residents will be unaware of flood related issues.

While the majority of land within the Shire is not flood prone, many of the urbanised areas are flood prone from mainstream flooding, may be affected by overland flows or may be affected by potential sea level rises resulting from either storm surges or climate change. Development of these areas must be managed to minimise flood related losses to persons and property. It is also essential that any new development in the upper reaches of the coastal catchments takes account of downstream areas in planning and designing drainage infrastructure.

The continued growth of residential (and other) properties in the region raises concerns of new or infill developments or redevelopment occu1Ting in flood prone areas with consequent liability on Council. This growth, together with the need for flood information within the development of the South Coast Regional Planning Strategy, has meant there is a need to:

• Assess Council's current standing in relation to the principles and guidelines of the NSW Flood Prone Land Policy, as described in the Floodplain Development Manual;
• Identify any gap between current standing and best practice;
• Identify a range of measures to close any gap and estimate the resources needed for Council to implement each measure;
• Assess and develop strategies to address Council's information needs for future development, the planning reform process, the (draft) Standard LEP and the recently released Section 117 directions under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act; and
• Prioritise the measures to achieve any gap closure and develop an implementation program that is both efficient and economically viable in the context of all other demands placed on Council resources.

In July 2005, URS Australia Pty Ltd was engaged by Eurobodalla Shire Council (as agent for the then Department of infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and Kiama and Bega Councils) to undertake the work required by such a review and assessment. This report presents URS's findings and recommendations on Floodplain Risk Management within the Eurobodalla Shire LGA.

It is considered that this report forms a strategic forward program for the development of floodplain management strategies in the LGA. It provides strategic benefits to Council in meeting the shortfall in information needs for both existing and new development to satisfy the requirements of regional strategies and planning refo1m and assists the Government in aligning its resources with the needs and expectations of Council.