The Kully Bay catchment is located in the suburb of Warrawong, in the Wollongong City LGA. The catchment covers an area of approximately 150 hectares and extends from the northern shores of Lake Illawarra in the south of the catchment to some 200m south of Wattle Street and Five Islands Road in the north. The catchment area is largely comprised of residential development (primarily detached dwellings) and commercial development, with a significant commercial centre, Warrawong Plaza, in the downstream reaches of the catchment.

The overall objective of this study is to improve understanding of flood behaviour and impacts, and better inform management of flood risk in the study area through consideration of the available information, and relevant standards and guidelines. The study will also provide a sound technical basis for any further flood risk management investigations in the area. The overall project provides an understanding of, and information on, flood behaviour and associated risk to inform:

• relevant government information systems;
• government and strategic decision makers on flood risk;
• the community and key stakeholders on flood risk;
• flood risk management planning for existing and future development;
• emergency management planning for existing and future development;
• strategic and development scale land-use planning to manage growth in flood risk; and
• decisions on insurance pricing (where the information is utilised by insurance companies).

The study outputs will also inform decision making for investing in the floodplain; managing flood risk through prevention, preparedness, response and recovery activities; pricing insurance, and informing and educating the community on flood risk and response to floods.