PATERSON

RIVER

FLOOD STUDY

The State Government’s Flood Policy aims to reduce the impacts of

flooding and flood liability on individual owners and occupiers, and to

reduce private and public losses resulting from flooding. Under the

Policy, local government is responsible for managing flood liable land.

The Policy encourages the development of solutions to existing flood

problems in developed areas, and strategies for ensuring that new

development:

• is compatible with the flood hazard, and

• does not create additional flooding problems in existing developed

areas.

The State Government’s Flood Policy provides for technical and

financial support for a number of floodplain management activities.

Funding for this study is being provided from the State Government’s

Flood Risk Management Program and from Maitland and Port

Stephens Councils.

Data

Collection

Flood Study

Floodplain Risk

Management Study

& Plan

Implementation

of PlanFLO

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PLA

IN M

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The Paterson River Flood Study is being undertaken, covering

the area from Vacy to the confluence with the Hunter River.

Maitland and Port Stephens Council has appointed WMAwater

to undertake this Study. Dungog Council has also agreed to

participate in the study.

The Floodplain Management Process

What’s Happening Now?

The Flood Study aims to understand and

determine the nature and extent of

potential flooding of the Paterson River

from Vacy (Upstream of the confluence of

the Paterson and Allyn River) to Hinton.

The first stage of the Flood Study will

collect, compile and review all available

information, including valuable

community knowledge and experiences.

As part of the study, computer models

will be established to determine the

extent and nature of flooding of the

Paterson River. In order to determine the

accuracy of such models, historical data

such as observations and photos of

flooding behaviour from the community

are required.

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Lake Wollumboola

Culburra

Coonemia Creek

Downs Creek

Culburra Road

Paterson River

North Rothbury

Rothbury

Pokolbin

Cessnock

Nulkaba

Paterson RiverFlood Study

The study incorporates the Paterson River from Vacy to Hinton and the corresponding catchment area. The

area incorporates parts of three Council areas (Maitland, Port Stephens and Dungog) and includes the

villages of Vacy, Paterson, Tocal, Woodville, Wallalong and Hinton.

Paterson River rises in the Barrington Tops National Park, west by north of Careys Peak and flows generally

south and southeast through Dungog Shire, it is joined by six tributaries including the Allyn River at Vacy,

before reaching its confluence with the Hunter River between Hinton and Morpeth. Between Hinton and

Dunns Creek, the Paterson River forms the border between the Port Stephens and Maitland local

government areas. The river system courses through the fertile farming land of the Paterson and Allyn River

Valleys and the historic Patersons Plains. The river descends 933 metres over its 151 kilometre course.

The river is partially impounded by Lostock Dam, located 48 kilometres downstream from the source in the

Barringtons. The embankment dam was constructed by the New South Wales Department of Water

Resources to supply water for irrigation and was completed in 1971. The river is tidal to above the village of

Paterson and below Vacy.

Study Area

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Paterson RiverFlood Study

How can I have my say?

Community involvement in the Flood Study is

important. The Floodplain Management Committee

includes members from Council, Office of Environment

and Heritage, the State Emergency Services and local

residents who will oversee this study. A questionnaire is

included with this newsletter so that your views and

information can be included in this Flood Study.

Dan Morgan

Civil Engineer

morgan@wmawater.com.au

WMAwater

Level 2, 160 Clarence Street

Sydney, NSW 2000

Tel: 02 9299 2855

Contacts

If you would like to know more, or if you have any information on flooding which would assist in the Flood Study,

please complete the relevant sections on the questionnaire and return. Additional information and comment can

be attached to the questionnaire when you return it or provided to the contacts below.

A questionnaire is enclosed with this newsletter.

Please complete this and return using the pre-paid

envelope provided.

Please make sure that all surveys are returned before

Friday 1st May or they may not be considered.

If you have additional information you would like to

make available for the Flood Study, or further

comments, please attach these to your questionnaire

response or alternatively get in touch with one of the

contacts below.

If you prefer you can fill out the questionnaire online:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PatersonRiver

Our main goal is to collect information about previous

floods. The local knowledge and personal experiences of

residents and business operators are an important source

of information. We are specifically interested in historical

records of flooding such as photographs, flood marks or

observations that residents may have.

Feedback from the community will be analysed and used

to establish accurate computer flood models of the study

area.

After data collection, the preliminary results will be

produced and a draft study will be placed on public

exhibition. You will be invited to view and comment on

the study and public forums will be held to present and

discuss the results of the study.

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Ian Shillington

Maitland City Council

Tel: 02 4934 9825

Michael Osborne

Port Stephens Council

Tel: 02 4980 0253

Paul Minnet

Dungog Council

Tel: 02 4995 7740

Council Contacts Please Return Surveys To:

Years

Paterson River - QUESTIONNAIREFlood Study

2. Is this property a residence, business, other?

Please complete this questionnaire and return using the pre-paid envelope provided.

If you prefer you can fill out the questionnaire online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PatersonRiver

1. Your Details

3. How long have you lived / worked at this address?

5. Have you been affected by flooding from Paterson River or its tributaries?

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

If business or other please provide details – e.g. Farm, vineyard:

Residence Business Other

4. How long have you lived in the Paterson Valley?

Years Months

Directly affected

Months

Observed flooding but not affected No awareness of flooding

If you were affected or have observed flooding do you have any information we could use such as photographs of

flooding, recorded observations of flood depths or other information? Please provide details below or attach

information. Please include dates when known.

Can we contact you directly for more information? YES / NO

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(Please note your contact details are optional , will be held confidential and will

only be used to contact you for more information regarding this study if you agree)

Paterson River - QUESTIONNAIREFlood Study

6. Do you have a creek or waterway on or near your property?

7. Has your property been affected by flooding?

Yes No

Yes, buildings affected

above floor level

Please give a brief description of the location of the creek or tributary.

If Yes, please provide details below regarding the date and time of the flooding and also if you believe the flooding

to be caused by the Paterson River or a local creek or tributary. Additional information can be attached to this

questionnaire if necessary or emailed to morgan@wmawater.com.au

NoYes, but not above building

floor levels

Questionnaire: April 2014 page 2

8. If your property has been affected by flooding do you have any flood level marks

on your house, shed, fence, trees or any photos of the flooding?

Yes No

If Yes, please provide details below . Additional information including photos can be attached to this questionnaire

if necessary or emailed to morgan@wmawater.com.au

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Paterson River - QUESTIONNAIREFlood Study

9. Has any damage been caused to your property due to flooding?

Please give a brief description of the damages and the date and time they occurred.

Yes No

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10. Please use this section to provide any additional information

or comments if you have them

Paterson River- QUESTIONNAIREFlood Study

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Please provide any additional comments below