THIS week, Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Telegraph Point residents have had their first chance to see how flood water projections could impact their properties, before asking questions and providing feedback.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council (PMHC) is inviting residents to review and respond to the updated Draft Hastings River Flood Study during its public exhibition, which opened last Monday, 26 October.
Submissions close at 5pm on Monday, 7 December 2026.
The study provides an updated understanding of potential flood behaviour across the Hastings River catchment, including where floodwaters may travel, how deep they could become, and how quickly they may move during different flood events.
Using survey information, historical flood records, rainfall data and computer modelling, the study will help inform future land-use and infrastructure planning, emergency preparedness, and flood risk management across the region.
While most of the previously exhibited flood mapping remains unchanged, revised modelling has identified some additional properties as potentially flood-prone.
The study is “an important step towards improving community understanding of flooding and strengthening future preparedness”, according to the council’s director of community infrastructure, Blayne West.
“Flooding has had a significant impact on our community over many years,” Ms West said.
“Having reliable, up-to-date information about how flooding could affect different areas is essential to planning for the future.
“This study is about understanding potential flood risks, not predicting that individual homes will flood.
“It provides important information to help residents, emergency services and Council make informed decisions about future flood events.”
Following community consultation in 2025, the council commissioned further technical investigations and updated its modelling of the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF), an extremely rare and improbable event representing the largest flood that could occur.
This work included checking the modelling against the May 2025 flood event, updating survey information in some areas and during extreme flooding, including dune breaches and river scouring.
What it means for property owners
SOME property owners have received letters advising that the council’s draft flood mapping identifies their property as affected during a Port Macquarie flood event.
“Receiving a letter does not mean a property’s flood risk has suddenly increased,” West said.
“The purpose of the study is to provide the community with the best available information about flood risk so that residents, emergency services, and the council can make informed decisions for the future.
“It also does not mean a property has been rezoned, that residents must undertake works, that they can no longer occupy their homes, or that future development is automatically prohibited.
“However, depending on a property’s location and level of flood risk, flood-related planning and development controls may apply to future building or renovation works.
“These requirements are intended to improve community resilience and reduce risks to life and property.”
The updated Draft Hastings River Flood Study, supporting documents and interactive flood mapping will be available through the council’s Have Your Say website.
Residents can search their address, compare different flood scenarios, and view indicative flood depths to better understand how their property may be affected.
“We encourage residents to review the study, explore the mapping for their property, and share their local knowledge and experiences,” West added.
“Community feedback is an important part of this process and will help inform the council’s consideration of the updated study, which will be finalised and considered by councillors at a future council meeting.”
“Community information sessions will also provide an opportunity to discuss the study and mapping with technical experts.”
Attend a community session
Sessions will be held at:
Telegraph Point: Tuesday, 3 November, 5.30pm-7pm
Port Macquarie: Wednesday, 4 November, 6pm-7.30pm and Wednesday, 25 November 2pm-3.30pm
Wauchope: Thursday, 12 November, 5.30pm-7pm and Monday, 23 November 5.30pm-7pm
Online session: Tuesday, 17 November 5.30pm-6.30pm
Registration is recommended as places are limited.
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