The Analysis of Community Attitudes to Flood Related Risks study was designed to provide the Hawkesbury-Nepean Floodplain Management Steering Committee with key information about:

• Attitudes of current and future communities of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley regarding natural hazards;
• What kind and level of personal losses are acceptable or unacceptable to them; and
• How much and under what conditions they are willing to pay for measures aimed at reducing the risk and impact of such losses.

The area upon which the study focused comprises those parts of the six local government areas of Penrith, Hawkesbury, BIacktown, Baulkham Hills, Hornsby and Gosford, which form the primary floodplain of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Part of the valley can experience serious flooding, causing extensive damage.