Study Area
The study area is located in south west Sydney and includes parts of the suburbs of East Hills,
Panania and Picnic Point. It is an urban catchment that drains through a stormwater pipe network and
Monash Creek to the Georges River. Much of the study area is also at risk of flooding from the
Georges River, and an upstream deflector levee and blockwall finger levees have been constructed
to mitigate this risk in the Carinya Road area. The Lucas Road catchment is wholly within the
Bankstown City local government area (LGA).
Outcomes from the Study
The main outcomes from this study include:
- A database of all Council drainage assets within the study area;
- Establishment of a computer model capable of assessing flood behaviour;
- Information on flood behaviour under existing catchment conditions;
- Predicted change in flood levels due to the potential impacts of climate change; and
- A model that can be used to assess flood mitigation options and future development proposals.
Database of Drainage Assets
All drainage asset data collected by Council for the study has been incorporated into a GIS database.
This allows the data to be spatially represented across the study area and easily retrieved as
required. Information in the database includes data for some 370 stormwater pits and 480 stormwater
drainage pipes.
Other catchment data, including aerial photography, property cadastre, building footprints and the
terrain surface (based on ALS survey) is also incorporated into a GIS database.
Computer Modelling
A numerical computer model was developed for the catchment to simulate flood behaviour, using the
software TUFLOW. Surface flows are represented in the model through a two-dimensional grid
covering the entire study area. The stormwater pit and pipe network is included as one-dimensional
elements within this grid. Full details of the modelling approach, modelling parameters and other
assumptions are outlined in the Lucas Road Catchment Flood Modelling Report, which is included as
Appendix C.
Existing Flood Behaviour
Design flood behaviour has been computed for a range of floods, ranging from relatively frequent
events to more extreme floods.
The model produces a grid of results over the study area providing data on flood levels, flood depths
and flood velocities. Flood level contours have also been prepared showing contours of flood heights
throughout the study area. This data is provided digitally and can be overlaid on base mapping such
as aerial photos and cadastral plans showing property boundaries.
All flood model results have been provided to Council for incorporation into their GIS database. Much
of this information is also included as A4 sized plans included in Appendix C.
It is understood that once the Flood Study has been adopted by Council, the GIS information
resulting from this Flood Study will be used for floodplain management purposes, including
assessment of flood-related development constraints on properties. Potential flood mitigation options
will be assessed in the subsequent Floodplain Risk Management Study phase of the floodplain risk
management process.
