Middle Creek, Pearl Beach Floodplain Risk Management Plan

This report documents the preferred management options for Middle Creek, Central coast NSW and incorporates them into a program of works that identifies the likely cost of each measure and their projected benefit to the Pearl Beach community.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN

The following floodplain management strategies are recommended for implementation under this Floodplain Risk Management Plan. Further details of the actions associated with each strategy are provided in Table 6.

1. Construct two low level flood levees at the rear of properties between 10 and 16 Emerald Avenue, Pearl Beach.
2. Encourage landowners to establish a Rivercare group and seek assistance from the Natural Heritage Trust and Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority to undertake creek corridor management activities. These activities would include vegetation management, bed and bank stabilisation works and small-scale works to increase channel conveyance.
3. Install a piped stormwater system along Pearl Beach Drive to reduce the magnitude of stormwater runoff carried by Middle Creek during large flood events.
4. Update Development Control Plan No.162 (Residential Development at Pearl Beach) to include additional flood related development controls for the Middle Creek floodplain (refer Section 3.4.1), and incorporate changes into the new Citywide DCP. Strengthen all related existing Council planning and development controls.
5. Monitor the extent of landscaping and bed or bank stabilisation works within the Middle Creek floodplain in order to enforce the proposed requirements of the Gosford Citywide DCP.
6. Develop a formal Flood Emergency Response Plan for Middle Creek as a sub-plan to the Gosford City Displan (2005), which is to include details of the recommended flood evacuation route and flood refuge.