A new flood management plan for Bulli and Thirroul was adopted by Wollongong City Council this week.
This new plan specifically targets Hewitts Creek catchment, yet also provides catchments for other creeks throughout Thirroul, Bulli, and nearby suburbs.
Bulli resident, Tyce De Bruyn talks about how the council have allowed the community to influence and interact with the upcoming projects for their area.
“I believe that the council has done a great job at allowing for our community to have input into these projects,” Tyce De Bruyn said.
“I was very excited to finally see that the council was planning on doing more about it, and that they’d put into motion a better plan to protect our community from such events.”
Replacing the previously adopted 2002 study/plan, The Hewitts Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (FRMSP) provides a new risk assessment, alongside a prioritised program of flood mitigation measures to inform future work.
The catchment area is 7.8km² and covers Hewitts, Slacky, Tramway, Woodlands, and Thomas Gibson Creeks, extending from the escarpment, to Sandon Point and Thirroul Beaches.
Due to Wollongong’s positioning between the escarpment and the beach, it is naturally prone to flooding.
Following the April 2024 flash floods in the Local Government Area (LGA), the Council has completed 25 of 26 projects within the Hewitts Creek catchment, yet there is still concern.
Bulli resident, Christian Apter stated how the council needs to inform the community on where the possible danger zones for residents to be aware of.
“I think the Council really needs to outline to people living in Bulli where catchments are and where there’s safer and higher risk zones,” Mr Apter said.
“Just so in the event of severe flooding people can relocate and be as safe as possible.”
Measures of The FRMSP include; drainage, flood modification works, additional vegetation management, levee construction, updates to emergency management plans, community education, and awareness programs.
“Floodings remain relatively the same level and you see it mostly in the news and I don’t think I’ve seen more outcry or anything,” Mr Apter said.
“I think given there’s more people living in Bulli now, flooding on the road causes way more disturbances to traffic so it has had a bigger impact.”
The Council generally looks after creeks on public land, and individual landowners are responsible for maintaining creeks on private property, however this plan will require a joint effort.
