Overland Flood Study

The Alstonville Overland Flood Study, Wardell Overland Flood Study and Lennox Head Overland Flood Study are now on public exhibition until Friday 27 November 2026.

The overland flood studies will provide up to date information to support town planning, guide future development, infrastructure planning and assist emergency response in future storms.

Public exhibition of the draft Ballina Island and West Ballina Local Stormwater Drainage Management Study and Stormwater Masterplan (the SWMP) is expected to take place in December 2026 through to early 2027.

The SWMP and flood studies aim to:

• Understand the current capacity of the stormwater network.
• Model and map overland flooding over a range of storm events, including the March 2022 storm.
• Identify areas where flooding occurs during high rainfall events due to factors such as stormwater capacity limitations.
• Identify potential stormwater upgrade projects that could improve this flooding.

Online feedback form

Council is seeking community feedback on the draft overland flood study reports mapping. This is new flood information and we are providing the opportunity for people to see how this relates to them.

Please view the draft report and mapping for your relevant town or village before completing the relevant feedback form below by Friday 27 November 2026. Please note there is a separate feedback form for each study area.

Information Sessions

• Wardell War Memorial Hall – Monday 9 November 2026, 5-7pm
• Wollongbar Hall – Wednesday 11 November 2026, 5-7pm
• Lennox Head Community Hall (Epiq) – Wednesday 18 November 2026, 5-7pm

Next steps

Community feedback will be reviewed and, where relevant, will help inform the final study. Once adopted by Council, the flood studies and the SWMP will complement existing studies of riverine flooding across the region’s major creeks and river catchments. Together, these studies will provide a more comprehensive understanding of flood risks and help guide future flood risk management planning across Ballina Shire.

This project is funded by Ballina Shire Council and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).