Narrandera is located on the Murrumbidgee River approximately 460 km west of the headwaters. Narrandera itself is a rural shire of approximately 4,177 square kilometres. The Narrandera township is approximately 8.4 square kilometres in area and Narrandera is located on the junction of the Newell and Sturt Highways. The Newell Highway is a major north-south highway often referred to as the inland route between Melbourne and Brisbane. The Sturt Highway is a major east-west highway traversing New South Wales.

The primary objectives of this study are to examine the effects of flooding on existing activities within the floodplain, and to provide a basis on which to examine the effects of proposed future development. This 'Flood Study' provides the first stage towards the development of a Floodplain Management Plan in accordance with the Department of Land and Water Conservation's (DLWC) draft Floodplain Management Manual (issued for public comment, March 1999).