Oaklands is located within the local government area of Federation Council, approximately 27km south of Urana and 46km southeast of Jerilderie. It has a population of 349 people (2016 census) and is located adjacent to Nowranie (South) Creek.

Nowranie Creek is a flood runner of Billabong Creek which receives breakout flows from Billabong Creek downstream of Walbundrie. Once past Oaklands, Nowranie Creek flows north and northwest until it joins with Billabong Creek to the west of Lake Urana. The village is located approximately 2km south of Nowranie Creek at an elevation around 20m above the creek bed, on a small hill on the floodplain. The town has not been impacted by riverine flooding in the past, but may be impacted by local runoff flooding from severe storm events. There are three mechanisms of flooding that are investigated: flooding due to the Nowranie Creek flood runner, flooding due to the Nowranie Creek local catchment and local catchment flooding around Oaklands itself.

The primary objective of this study is to define the nature and extent of flood behaviour in and adjacent to the township of Oaklands. The study will produce information on flood levels, velocities, flows, hydraulic categories and provisional hazard categories for 20%, 10%, 5%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.2% annual exceedance probability (AEP) events and the probable maximum flood (PMF) event.