Flood Warning Systems - Swamp-Fishery Creek & Cessnock Urban Area
Consultation has concluded
Cessnock City Council won grant funding to install Flood Warning Systems for Swamp-Fishery Creek and the Cessnock Urban Area. This is a space for information and discussion around the project.
Overview of Project
Council was recently successful in receiving grant funding from the Department of Planning & Environment (DPE) to install flood warning system infrastructure within the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA).
Flash flood siren alerting systems are proposed to be installed at four locations including:
- Elizabeth St , Abermain
- Thomas Fell Park, Weston
- Mount View Park, Cessnock
- Short Street, Cessnock
Additional flood warning infrastructure including water level gauges to monitor creek levels in concrete stormwater channels and an automated rainfall gauge at Kearsley are also proposed to be installed.
Council will own the infrastructure and facilitate maintenance arrangements. Council and SES will be notified of any alarms and will have remote access to operate the flood warning systems.
Overall Project Purpose
The purpose of the proposed flood warning infrastructure is to protect life and property by alerting residents that live near high risk flash flood locations of rising creek levels, and to inform Council and emergency service organisations prior to, and during flood events.
Community Information Sessions
There are scheduled Community Information Sessions to find out more information, raise concerns and ask questions to the project team. If you would like to attend the sessions, please RSVP here.
Cessnock CBD
Monday 5th September 2022
4pm - 7pm Cessnock Civic Indoor Sports Centre
105 Mt View Road
Cessnock 2325
Weston/Abermain
Tuesday 6th September 2022
4pm - 7pm - Weston Civic Centre
Unit 28/30 Second St
Weston NSW 2326
Image of Flood Warning System courtesy of AquamonixWeston/Abermain - Flood Warning System Locations
It’s easy to share your ideas and comments:
- Zoom in to the exact location that you are interested in using the sliding bar or your mouse.
- Choose the icon that best reflects your thoughts: ideas & suggestions or make a comment.
- Click the button and drag it to the location you have chosen.
- Add your comments, ideas or even a photo.
Information around the project
Approximately 40 properties within Abermain and Weston experience over floor flooding or significant yard flooding for the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) event (sometimes referred to as the 1 in 100-year rainfall event). Swamp Creek can rise rapidly during high rainfall events, placing property and life at risk.
The installation of two (siren based) Flood Warning Systems within the Swamp-Fishery Creek catchment will alert residents that live within flood prone areas in Abermain and Weston of rising creek levels, and/or of a flood emergency. The primary purpose of these warning systems is to protect life.
Privately owned and operated siren alerting systems currently exist at the Abermain and Weston locations. These were funded and installed by a former local resident, Mr. Colin Maybury.
Council is also installing an automated rain gauge in the upper Swamp Creek catchment. The purpose of this rain gauge is to inform Council and emergency services (SES) during high rainfall or storm events. Continuous gauging data also allows for improved future flood modelling calibration.
Cessnock Urban Area - Flood Warning Systems Locations
It’s easy to share your ideas and comments:
- Zoom in to the exact location that you are interested in using the sliding bar or your mouse.
- Choose the icon that best reflects your thoughts: ideas & suggestions or make a comment.
- Click the button and drag it to the location you have chosen.
- Add your comments, ideas or even a photo.
Information around the project
Whilst a number of areas within Cessnock are subject to flooding, the locations recommended for flood warning infrastructure (Stage 1 Works) are subject to hazardous flooding and have been determined to be the highest flood risk areas in terms of risk to public safety and property.
The installation of two (siren based) Flood Warning Systems within the Lavender catchment will alert residents that live within flood prone areas of rising creek levels, and/or of a flood emergency. The primary purpose of these warning systems is to protect life.
Siren based alert systems are proposed to be installed at Short Street area and Mount View Detention Basin.
Council is also installing three creek level gauges in the Cessnock Urban Area: near the intersection of Hall & Charlton Street, at West Avenue and at Ferguson Street. The purpose of these gauges is to inform Council and emergency services (SES) during high rainfall or storm events. Continuous gauging data also allows for improved future flood modelling calibration.
Preliminary Design Documents
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Cessnock - Preliminary Design information
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Preliminary Design Report (89.7 KB) (docx)
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Appendix A - Telemetry tower specifications (613 KB) (pdf)
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Appendix A - Telemetry tower handrail specifications (668 KB) (pdf)
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Appendix B_001.jpg (4.68 MB) (jpg)
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Appendix B_002.jpg (4.85 MB) (jpg)
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Appendix C - Cessnock siren projections (1.68 MB) (docx)
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Appendix D - Cessnock Wiring (218 KB) (pdf)
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Abermain Weston - Preliminary Design information
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Appendix A - Telemetry tower specifications (613 KB) (pdf)
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Abermain Weston Preliminary Design Report (91 KB) (docx)
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Appendix A - Telemetry tower handrail specifications (668 KB) (pdf)
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Appendix B_001.jpg (4.68 MB) (jpg)
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Appendix B_002.jpg (4.85 MB) (jpg)
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Appendix C - Weston Abermain siren projections (1.55 MB) (docx)
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Appendix D - Cessnock Wiring (218 KB) (pdf)
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