Thank you to everyone who participated in the Hewitts Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan engagement.

Council has heard from the community over several years to inform and develop the Hewitts Creek Flood Risk Management Study and Plan. This includes through targeted consultation during the Hewitts Creek Flood Study in 2019 and the Let’s Chat Thirroul session in 2024, inviting feedback and discussion on flood impacts. Ongoing and continuous engagement occurs through existing data collection such as collecting customer feedback, liaising directly with residents, reviewing technical and community-sourced flood data.

This year, we invited the community to share their thoughts on the flood mitigation measures identified as part of the Study and Plan. The feedback we received will allow Council to better understand specific areas of concern for this community and support the progression and prioritisation of flood mitigation works for this catchment area.

Engagement participation numbers

Between 25 August and 26 September 2025:

273 visits to the online engagement page

9 surveys completed

2 letters

2 phone calls

9 emails

40 face to face conversations

This is a high-level summary of the feedback

• Most submissions were from residents or property owners within the Hewitts Creek catchment, reflecting strong local interest and concern.
• Several community members expressed appreciation for the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, acknowledging the importance of progressing work to mitigate flood risks.
• There was support for some of the proposed flood modification measures, with suggestions offered to improve or reconsider certain aspects.
• Concerns were raised about Council’s historical response to flood risks, with some expressing a lack of confidence in Council’s management of this issue.
• A number of respondents were worried about the potential impact on property values and insurance premiums due to being identified within a Flood Risk Precinct.
• Specific locations—including creek lines such as Hewitts, Slacky, Tramway, Woodlands, and Thomas Gibson, and various streets—were highlighted as areas of significant flood impact.

Specific feedback on proposed medication measures was also received

• There was strong support for the Woodland Creek Levee, with suggestions to extend it across the culvert to the rail embankment, ensure diverted water doesn’t flow into Thomas Gibson Creek, and explore using the nearby safety ramp as a debris control structure.
• The additional culvert at Cliff Parade was widely supported, considered an effective improvement. A suggestion was made to reposition it to the lowest point of the street.
• The South Arm Diversion and Cliff Parade Culvert Upgrade also received support, with the latter seen as beneficial for managing flood impacts near properties.
• Vegetation management was supported, with calls for clearer maintenance schedules, prioritisation of overgrown areas like McCauley Street, clarification on land ownership responsibilities, and consideration of the community garden’s role in debris buildup.
• Other supported measures included property buy-back schemes, flood preparedness education, and community resilience initiatives.

Next steps

• All feedback heard from the community will now be considered by the project team and consultants. All responses will be reviewed in detail so that recommendations can be made for before finalising the Hewitts Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.
• Feedback is important and is one factor of the decision-making process for Council. There are a whole range of things that are important in how we make a decision. The graphic above shows some of the factors we consider in our decision making:
• Keep an eye on the Let's Talk Wollongong page for project updates.

Tell us how we did

We’d love to know what you thought about your experience when you engaged with us. Tell us how we did by completing this form.