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CUSTOMER SERVICE INTERRUPTION - TUE 12 DEC 

Council’s customer service centres will have a planned service interruption on Tuesday, 12 December that will temporarily impact customer service hours. 

Customer Service Centres - Erina: closed all day | Wyong: closed from 12.30pm | Gosford: closed from 12pm. All Council Customer Service services will resume as normal from 8.30am Wednesday, 13 December. For urgent matters, you can still call us on 02 4306 7900. Our online Customer Service Centre is also always available. 

COUNCIL OFFICE CLOSURES - CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 2023

  • Council offices will be closed over the holiday period from Mon 25 Dec 2023 to Mon 1 Jan 2024 (re-opening Tues 2 Jan 2024).  Some of Council’s services and facilities will be closed or have changes, however essential services will continue to operate.  
  • VIEW FULL DETAILS HERE
  • For urgent reports or issues, call Council on 02 4306 7900 at any time.  Non-urgent reports, and enquiries can be lodged 24/7 through our online Customer Service Centre (and progressed from 2 Jan).
Types of flooding
Understand the types of flooding that can impact the Central Coast region.

How flooding occurs on the Central Coast

Coastal Flooding Infographic (click to zoom)

ocean water surge through stormwater channels and overland

Coastal Flooding

Graphic showing rainclouds and water running downhill into residential area

Overland flooding

graphic showing rain over river with normal water level and higher level with water running down hill

River and creek flooding

graphic showing rain and flooding on street with shops and cars

Flooding in built up urban environments

To understand the potential impacts of flooding on your property, use our online flood risk tools.

Flooding comes in different types, sizes and durations:

1) Catchment flooding

Catchment flooding occurs from prolonged or intense rainfall (e.g. severe storms and East Coast Lows) that can lead to:

  • Breaking the banks of creeks and rivers - Hawkesbury River, Erina Creek, Narara Creek, Ourimbah Creek, Wyong River, and many others.
  • Filling coastal lakes and lagoons - Tuggerah Lakes, Wamberal lagoon, Terrigal Lagoon, Avoca Lake, Cockrone Lagoon, Pearl Beach Lagoon.
  • Water flowing across normally dry land in both urban and rural areas on its way to waterways, due to the inability for the ground to absorb additional water.

2) Coastal flooding

Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying land is submerged by seawater, often caused by tidal or storm-driven coastal events, including storm surge and wind-induced waves in coastal waterways.

Areas on the Central Coast that can be impacted by coastal flooding include:

  • Brisbane Water and the lower reaches of Narara Creek and Erina Creek
  • Coastline foreshores areas

3) Combination flooding

Catchment and coastal flooding can occur simultaneously. The impacts will vary depending on factors such as catchment characteristics and the specifics of the weather event.

4) Flash Flooding

Flash flooding is caused by sudden local or nearby heavy rainfall generally peaks within six hours of the onset of rain. 

Flood duration

Areas that are affected by coastal flooding, such as foreshore communities in Brisbane Water, may experience flooding which can typically last only 2 hours associated with a high tide.

Land adjacent to creeks and rivers can be flooded for a day or more; foreshore land around Tuggerah Lakes can be flooded for up to four days.

 

Normal and Flooded Lake Infographics (click to zoom)

Normal Lake Graphic
Flooded Lake Graphic

Flooded lake

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