Natural hazards

Strategic planning for natural hazards in NSW

The NSW Government supports sustainable and hazard-resilient communities through smart land use planning.

We are giving communities and councils the tools to prepare for, manage and recover from extreme events – potentially saving lives and property.

Natural hazards can have a devastating impact on communities and the environment. They can include a bushfire, coastal hazard, cyclone, drought, earthquake, flood, heatwave, landslide, severe thunderstorm, tornado and tsunami.

The natural hazards package includes:

• a strategic guide (PDF, 3.3 MB) to planning for natural hazards in NSW
• a resource kit (PDF, 217 KB) to support the strategic planning process and help plan-making authorities find the information and data they need

Watch our video to find out more about the package’s purpose and guiding principles:

Strategic guide

The guide helps create regional, district and local strategic plans, planning proposals and other strategic planning activities. It:

• identifies the natural hazards relevant to NSW that should be considered in strategic planning activities
• considers the connection to existing policies, acts, regulations, guidelines and responsibilities
• explains key concepts related to natural hazard risk management
• sets out eight guiding principles to inform land use planning decisions and manage natural hazard risk.

The guide is supported by a resource kit (PDF, 217 KB) to help plan-making authorities find relevant natural hazard data, risk management information, other guidance, case studies, standards and tools.

Supporting documents

• Strategic guide (PDF, 3.3 MB)
• Handbook (PDF, 328 KB)
• Frequently asked questions (PDF, 64 KB)
• Resource kit (PDF, 217 KB).

The natural hazards package was exhibited between 27 April 2021 and 8 June 2021.

It was finalised on 6 December 2021.

More information

Please email the project team at coastal@planning.nsw.gov.au if you have any questions about this project.