The Wagga Wagga Local Government Area (LGA) is located in the southern inland area of NSW. The study area is surrounded by seven other LGAs, namely Coolamon and Junee to the north, Gundagai and Tumut to the east, Greater Hume and Lockhart to the south and Narrandera to the west. The Wagga Wagga LGA covers an area of approximately 4,886 km2. The Murrumbidgee River traverses the floodplain from east to west and is a major tributary to the Murray System draining some 100,000 km2. The catchment area of the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga is approximately 26,400 km2. The majority of the floodplain is used for agricultural purposes. Most of the urban and industrial development is located in Central and North Wagga. Other industrial areas are located in the southern floodplain and east of Wagga Wagga along the Sturt Highway. Recent population growth has been mainly centred in the southern and elevated areas of Wagga Wagga. Other significant residential centres comprise Kooringal and Lake Albert.

Council engaged WMAwater to develop a suitable 2D model, calibrated to the 1974 event, with the ultimate purpose of defining the 1% AEP flood extents and levels for Murrumbidgee River flooding over the entire LGA. Note that where design results overlap previous models results, particularly from the 2010 study, Council will need to be consulted as to which design flood information is to be used.