The study area comprises two catchments, Mullet Creek and Brooks Creek, which drain areas of about 72 square kilometres and 5 square kilometres, respectively. Both watercourses discharge separately to Lake Illawarra. Mullet Creek is located about 8 kilometres south-west of the Wollongong CBD. A large proportion of the catchment is currently undeveloped and is earmarked for development over the next 30 years. It is expected that the population of the West Dapto area will increase by approximately 55,000 persons in that time. The Brooks Creek catchment is an almost fully urbanised catchment located to the southeast of the Mullet Creek catchment.

The Mullet and Brooks Creeks FRMS&P investigate what can be done to minimise the effects of flooding. Specific objectives of the study include:

• preparation of a flood study;
• quantification of the flood problem;
• evaluation of potential floodplain management measures to address the existing problem; and
• preparation of a recommended Floodplain Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for the Mullet and Brooks Creeks floodplains, outlining the best measures to reduce flood damage, based on consideration of socio-economic, ecological and engineering issues.