Planning and development controls

Information on local flood planning, development and responsibilities

Any proposed development works (including fences) located in, on or adjacent to levees or within declared floodplains (as gazetted under the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Act 1956) must be referred to Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for consideration under Section 256 of the Water Management Act 2000.

For information about what you can and cannot do around Hunter Valley flood Mitigation Scheme infrastructure, please read: Requirements for development in the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme

If you are a developer you will need council approval. Council will refer the plan to the department. You should consult with the department before submitting the final plans as this will avoid unnecessary amendments at a later stage.

The NSW Flood Data Portal also has information on flood planning and development.

Information about flooding in your area and development controls can be found on your local council website:

City of Newcastle

• Flood Management Plans

Maitland City Council

• Development Control Plan

Port Stephens Council

• Flooding

Singleton Council

• Floodplain management

Upper Hunter Shire Council

• Upper Hunter Development Control Plan 2015 (PDF. 1,500KB)
• March 2021