Sutton is located within the Sydney-Canberra Corridor, approximately 230 km south-west of Sydney and 20 km north of Canberra. The township is located within the upper reaches of the Yass River Catchment, at the confluence of the Yass River and McLaughlin’s Creek. The upstream limit of the Sutton Study Area is the Federal Highway. The downstream boundary is situated approximately 1.5 km north of town and 1 km north of the Yass River / McLaughlin’s Creek confluence. The total study covers an area of approximately 12 square kilometres.

The main objective of this FRMS&P is to identify floodplain risk, test amelioration strategies for the management of risk and to put forward priorities and approximately costed recommendations in regard to flood risk mitigation at Sutton. Council requires consideration of a range of management options to effectively manage existing, future and continuing flood risks at Sutton. The outcomes from the Floodplain Risk Management Study and draft Floodplain Risk Management Plan will also assist the SES in updating the Yass Valley Local Flood Plan to include risk management advice for Sutton.