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Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Warning System

The Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Warning System feasibility study will contribute to informing the delivery of flood warnings for the community.

Background

Council engaged water engineers Stantec Australia (formerly Cardno) to undertake a scoping and feasibility study to assess the requirements for a location-based Total Flood Warning System (TFWS)  for the Bega and Brogo River catchments. This project is the first stage of delivering a TFWS to the community.

Purpose

The Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Warning System scoping and feasibility study contributes to informing the delivery of flood warnings for the community.

This project follows on from the 2018 Bega and Brogo Rivers Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan (FRMS&P, Cardno, 2018) which recommended investigating a flood warning system in the Bega and Brogo River study area.

The study involved community consultation, agency stakeholder engagement and a review of available and emerging flood warning technology to develop a fit for purpose flood warning system, tailored to the different needs of each community in the study area.

Funding

Council received partial funding from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment under the NSW Government Floodplain Management Program to assist with the completion of the study.

Community Strategic Plan (CSP)

The project links to the following Outcomes and strategies in Council’s adopted Community Strategic Plan 2040:

  • Outcome 4: Liveable Places
    Goal 7: Our Shire continues to be a vibrant, safe and affordable place to live
  • Outcome 6:  Strong, consultative leadership
    Goal 11  We are an informed and engaged community with a transparent, consultative and responsive Council

Study area

Map showing the total study area for this project.

Related documents

Project timeline


  • 2014

    Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Study undertaken.

  • 2018

    Bega and Brogo Rivers Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan undertaken.

  • 2020-2021

    Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Warning System Feasibility and Scoping Study undertaken.

  • 18 December 2022

    Draft Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Warning System scoping and feasibility study developed.

  • 24 May 2023

    Bega and Brogo Rivers Flood Warning System scoping and feasibility study endorsed by Council.

Frequently Asked Questions


The Total Flood Warning System concept describes a number of components that must be integrated if a Flood Warning system is to operate effectively. The components of a ‘total flood warning system’ are:

  • Monitoring and prediction
  • Interpretation
  • Message Construction
  • Communication
  • Protective Behaviour
  • Review

More information on Total Flood Warning Systems can be found online

Council is working through each stage of the NSW Floodplain Management Process to manage flood risk in the shire.  The following steps have been undertaken in the Bega and Brogo River study area:

  1. Data Collection and Flood Study - This study used your input to develop flood models for the Bega and Brogo Rivers as well as Candelo, and was completed by SMEC in 2014.
  2. Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan – This study investigated a range of options and made recommendations to help manage and mitigate flood risk in the study area, and was completed by Cardno in 2018. One of the recommendations was to undertake a feasibility study for a flood warning system in the study area.
  3. Plan Implementation – Council received funding to progress the recommendation to improve the flood warning system, and has engaged Stantec to undertake the feasibility and scoping study.

The feasibility study was the first step in investigating an improved flood warning system in the study area. It builds on previous studies, and takes a closer look at a range of factors that go into the design and implementation of a flood warning system using the Total Flood Warning System concept. This included technical requirements, community needs and preferences, as well as determining who would ultimately own, operate and maintain the flood warning infrastructure. It looked at a number of options and made recommendations based on a range of criteria including cost effectiveness, community preferences, environmental considerations and technical feasibility.

At the end of this study, Council will have the information and tools it needs to implement the recommended flood warning system.

Council recognises that the information needs from a flood warning system may be different for individual communities and may have impact on the final system design. Council broadly consulted with the community and incorporated the feedback into the adopted Floodplain Risk Management Plan for the catchment. The project consultation was targeted at fleshing out the specific issues for each catchment community surrounding flood warning issues that may be relevant to them. This followed on from the identified action to investigate the implementation of a flood warning system for the wider catchment in the adopted Floodplain Risk Management Plan. Currently, flood warning is focussed on the locality of Bega. The project investigated the feasibility of extending flood warning to other catchment localities on the issues identified.

Yes, flood warnings for the Bega River are provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) at the North Bega gauge. This feasibility study looked at expanding and improving this system, as well as investigating options for flood warnings in other parts of the catchment, particularly where there was the risk of flash flooding.

A level of flood warning system already exists within the catchment focussed on the locality of Bega. The current project was the feasibility and scoping study of a wider flood warning system for other catchment localities. The issues identified during the study for each specific catchment community were considered in the final concept design of a future system for the wider catchment. The implementation or construction of any additional flood warning system infrastructure or system elements are subject to funding, cost, stakeholder feedback and other feasibility issues to be considered at a later date following the completion of the current study.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) provided partial grant funding and technical assistance to Council in the delivery of the final study outcomes. The Bureau of Meteorology and the NSW SES were also key project stakeholders who assisted in the system design to identify key required inputs and outputs. Council and its wider community were also key stakeholders as any future flood warning system will assist each stakeholder to manage the risks arising from flooding. Council’s Local Emergency Management Committee were also  consulted during the project.

Council  engaged consultants, Stantec, to assist with the scoping and feasibility study which includes the proposed design concept.


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