Community input needed for Sawyers Gully Flood Study

Published on 02 May 2025

Cessnock City Council has engaged WMAwater Pty Ltd to undertake a flood study for the Sawyers Gully Urban Investigation Area (SGUIA).

The flood study, which is currently in its inception stage, will inform the development of the structure plan for the SGUIA, and assist in mitigating potential floods risks.

Consultants are currently gathering critical data on flooding patterns and the catchment area, which will be used for the development of computational flood models. These models will provide technical analysis that will be used by Council to better understand flood risks and manage development in flood-prone areas more effectively.

The study area includes Sawyers Gully and is bordered by the Hunter Expressway to the west. Waterways such as Swamp Creek, Deep Creek, Black Waterhole Creek, and a tributary of Bishop Creek run through the study area, and form an integral part of the floodplain under investigation.

Cessnock City Mayor Dan Watton is urging local residents to contribute their knowledge and experiences to help strengthen the study’s outcomes.

"I highly encourage residents to participate in this initiative and contribute any local knowledge about past flooding events," said Clr Watton.

"Community input will help us build a more complete picture of flood risks in the area, which in turn will lead to smarter, safer planning for the future."

Residents can share their observations through a short online survey, available at https://together.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/sguia/surveys/sguia-flood-study-survey.

Further details about the project can be found on the Together Cessnock page here, or by contacting Council’s Senior Strategic Planner on (02) 4993 4248.

This study has been made possible thanks to funding and technical assistance from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. It will be carried out in accordance with the NSW Government’s Flood Risk Management Manual (2023), which provides guidance under the State’s Flood Prone Land Policy to ensure the sustainable and safe use of floodplain land, as part of the Flood Risk Management Process.