Wollongong City Council wants residents to work with their neighbours to care for creeks and help minimise the impacts of future flooding. 

“We want to help the community to understand what they can do for their creeks and give them a bit of a hand,” said Nathan McBriarty, Council’s Manager of Infrastructure Strategy and Planning.

Speaking at a drop-in info session for creek care at Thirroul District Community Centre and Library on November 6, Nathan added: “We'd really like to see the community empowered, and get that knowledge out there, that’s why these are important sessions.”

Experts on stormwater, flooding and creeks were on hand at the creek care session to share their advice. One top tip was to do regular creek maintenance, as this can improve soil stability, support local biodiversity, improve water quality and manage the impacts of flooding.

“The floods are going to happen, but it will help mitigate and minimise the impacts if we are all working together,” Nathan said.

“Work with your neighbours. You can get together together and apply for a government grant if you’ve got a project and a plan to work on your creek.”

Council maintains creeks on public land, however, 60% of Illawarra creeks are on privately owned land.

Residents should keep the area around their creeks clear and clean – no grass clippings, mulch, rubbish or furniture. Digging or building structures is a big no-no.

To help to absorb floodwater and slow down damage, land owners can plant native trees, shrubs and grasses. This may reduce the impacts of flooding and erosion on the environment and personal property.

Suggested plants for creek care include:

• Cheese Tree, Red Ash, Bleeding Heart and Native Violet for the buffer zone.

• Sandpaper Fig, Tall Sedge, Common Rush, Spiny-headed Mat-rush for the waters edge.

• Water-tolerant plants such as Blue Flax Lily, Grey Myrtle, Lilly Pilly, White Aspen for lower bank.

Wollongong Botanic Garden provided free plants for attendees.

The team also answered questions about flood management and infrastructure.

“A lot of people still have questions about the 6th of April floods," Nathan said. “The impacts were significant to property and infrastructure, we were fortunate that no one was hurt.

“We have our floodplain risk management studies and plans so we can understand the behaviour of flood water during extreme storm events. Our stormwater systems are only designed to smaller rainfall events which overflow as planned – it’s how we appropriately manage these overland flow paths which can be the challenge.

“We can inform the community and people who are at risk and help them prepare for it.”

Visit council's Private Creeks webpage for helpful resources and frequently asked questions creek maintenance.