Darlington Point Floodplain Risk Management and Plan

The township of Darlington Point is located on the floodplain of the Murrumbidgee River in western NSW and is home to over 1,000 people. The township is divided by the Murrumbidgee River into North Darlington Point and Darlington Point.

Darlington Point is subject to both riverine and major overland flow flooding. Flooding of the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point has occurred on a number of occasions in the past, most notably in 1891, 1956, 1974 2010, 2012 and 2016. The March 2012 event currently stands as the flood of record, and the October 2016 the fifth (5th) highest flood of record and the December 2010 event the seventh (7th) highest flood on record.

The part of the township on the southern floodplain is protected from riverine flooding by an existing levee that is currently being upgraded. However, there is no levee protecting north Darlington Point from riverine flooding. The southern township within the levee is prone to overland flow flooding when elevated Murrumbidgee River water levels can prevent local runoff from draining through the levee system and into the river.

In 2018, Council completed the Darlington Point and Environs Flood Study. This study defined the existing flood behaviour in the catchment at Darlington Point, and provides the basis to undertake a floodplain risk management study and plan for the areas.  This Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan will assess a range of potential measures that may help manage this flood risk with the resources currently available.

The study will examine a variety of flood risk management opportunities related to the flood risk in the study area, including the Darlington Point levee, options to protect North Darlington Point, and a review of the flood information based on the most up to date and best management practice of Australian Rainfall and Runoff 2019. 

The study is being prepared by engineering consultancy, Catchment Simulation Solutions, who have completed many similar studies across NSW.

To learn more about the study, including how you can contribute to the study, click the "Next" button below.