The City of Greater Geelong is inviting the community to review and provide feedback on the draft Central Geelong Stormwater Management Strategy, now available on our Have Your Say webpage until Sunday 15 November.
This is the third and final round of community engagement for the catchment study. Updated flood maps, key findings and recommended actions are also available for review.
The draft strategy aims to improve understanding of stormwater and flood risk across Central Geelong and guide long‑term actions to strengthen flood resilience. It explains how heavy rainfall can affect roads, properties, public spaces and other infrastructure across Central Geelong, Newtown, Geelong West, Manifold Heights and East Geelong.
The outcomes will help shape new development within the catchment to be more resilient to future flood impacts from climate change.
The strategy is based on detailed technical studies, updated flood modelling, property floor‑level surveys, drainage network assessments and feedback gathered during two earlier rounds of community engagement.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM
Many residents have been impacted by flooding events over the years and have a vested interest in how stormwater will be managed moving forward.
The community’s contributions so far have been incredibly valuable in assessing how people, infrastructure, wildlife and natural landscapes can be better protected.
We’re encouraging as many people as possible to review the final report and share their thoughts. This strategy will help guide future preparedness, emergency response and sustainable land‑use planning.
A key outcome of the strategy is the identification of the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood extent, which shows areas with a 1 per cent chance of flooding in any given year.
Properties within this extent will be designated as land liable to flooding from October 2026, in accordance with Building Regulations 2018. This is an interim step whilst the process to amend the Geelong Planning Scheme is undertaken.
Deputy Mayor Eddy Kontelj
Council manages the drains, pits and channels that move stormwater away from our streets, so understanding how flooding behaves is essential.
This study gives landowners better information about their flood risk and helps us avoid making flooding worse through inappropriate development. It also helps planners and developers make responsible decisions on land that’s known to be flood‑prone.
Last year the City welcomed Victorian Government reforms to strengthen floodplain management across the state. These changes will streamline flood‑related planning scheme amendments, introduce a new risk‑based flood hazard rating system and reduce the administrative burden on councils.
As Victoria’s second‑largest and fastest‑growing city, Geelong must deliver more than 128,000 new homes by 2051. Strong state support for sustainable stormwater infrastructure will be essential as the region continues to grow.
Residents can now review the draft strategy and provide feedback at: yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/CGSMS-1
