2022 NSW Flood Inquiry
The NSW Government commissioned an independent inquiry into the preparation for, causes of, response to and recovery from the 2022 flood events across NSW. The report and recommendations from this inquiry have now been delivered.
The department is working with other government agencies and key stakeholders, like councils, on the implementation of the government's response to the report as part of its commitment to ensuring there is greater resilience in communities across NSW.
Further updates on the government’s response to the report will be provided in due course.
Penrith City Centre is located adjacent to the Nepean River and is impacted by flooding up to and beyond the 1 in 100 chance per year flood. Penrith City Council has carefully managed the flood risks up to the 1 in 100 chance per year flood, but the challenges of more severe and extreme events require greater collaboration. The department has worked closely with Penrith City Council, Infrastructure NSW, Roads and Maritime Services and NSW State Emergency Service to create an Adaptive Management Framework to manage the flood risk within the Penrith City Centre.
This framework will help guide future planning decisions to ensure development is within the capacity of the regional evacuation routes. This is consistent with the NSW Government's policies to create a resilient Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley.
The NSW Government has prepared a Development Assessment Guideline (PDF, 143 KB) to ensure future development does not impact on the safe evacuation of the community from the area in the event of a flood.
An amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 requires compliance with the guideline when a development application is being assessed.
Development Assessment Guideline
Page last updated: 01/03/2023