Whose job is it to make sure your local creek runs clear?

Do you know who owns your local creek? More than 60 per cent of waterways at a high risk of flooding in Wollongong are privately owned.

Nathan McBriarty, manager of infrastructure strategy and planning at Wollongong City Council, said many landowners were surprised to learn the creek running through their yard was their responsibility.

“It’s the unique nature of Wollongong,” Nathan said.

“We’re right up against the escarpment with a steep drop to the ocean and 88 km of waterways run through it.

“In the April 2024 flood disaster we saw a lot of those waterways flood, and landscaping that had been built around them caused blockages or water quality impacts downstream in our lakes and the ocean.”

Associated landscaping included footbridges, while in one notable case a cabin that was listed on Airbnb, complete with guests inside also ended up in a watercourse.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a warm, wet summer is headed our way, with a neutral phase of the El Nino-La Nina oscillation bringing an increased likelihood of severe storms.

Senior climatologist at the BoM, Hugh McDowell, said it was worth getting flood ready now.

“It’s almost twice as likely to be an unusually wet summer with an increased frequency of severe storms with damaging wind gusts, giant hail and flash flooding.

“The bias is towards warm and sticky which is when we see those long-lasting, high-intensity heatwaves where it can be a struggle to sleep.

“There’s an increased chance of rainfall and above median maximum and minimum temperatures, so warmer and wetter weather.”

If you want to improve the health and stability of a waterway on your property the Wollongong Botanic Gardens has a variety of suitable native plants, and plenty of expertise.

“There’s a misconception that vegetation causes issues, but the roots do a better job of supporting embankments than retaining walls,” Nathan said.

“Please don’t dump litter – even things like grass clippings or other green waste – that will stop it flowing freely.”

Waterways usually run through multiple properties, and a blockage that starts on one property can affect others.

If you’re planning to do work on your section, Nathan suggested organising a bit of a blitz with your waterway-sharing neighbours.

“We have some really good examples around the Illawarra, especially in Thirroul and Figtree, or communities working together to manage watercourses.

“It’s no different if you’re on 100 acres or a 600 m block, it’s a shared responsibility.

“It’s beautiful in its own way. First Nations people have managed Country for 60,000 years and you have the opportunity to do the same, have a really visually aesthetic feature on your property and deliver a benefit for our lakes and oceans.”

If that’s a responsibility you don’t want to sign up for and you’re looking to purchase a property in the Illawarra, it’s worth getting in touch with the council before you sign any paperwork.

Nathan said many homeowners were blindsided after their purchase went through because they weren’t aware a nearby waterway was part of the property, or that the reason they got a good deal was because of heightened flood risk.

If there’s a blocked watercourse near your home and you’re not sure who is responsible for it, send a picture to the council through their Snap, Send, Solve app.

“If it’s a blockage on council land or infrastructure we can fix it, and if it’s not ours we can contact the owner on the community’s behalf,” Nathan said.

“If you’ve got a neighbour who is less supportive you can contact the NSW Government’s Community Justice Centres.

“It can be really expensive to remediate flood damage from a blocked creek, and the justice centres are set up to mediate problems and prevent them from ending up in court.”

If you’re wondering why the council doesn’t just cover them all in concrete, there are a couple of reasons.

First of all, Nathan said, it doesn’t always reduce flood risk, especially for broad waterways that are close to the ocean.

Secondly, it can actually degrade water quality.

Finally, sometimes the work is too expensive for the benefit it will provide to a small number of homes, especially when the problem could be solved by good waterway management.

“We get about three and a half thousand requests for help each quarter,” Nathan said.

“We have to manage our investment to have the maximum benefit to the largest number of properties.

“We prioritise issues with a high risk to life and property first.”

For more information head to Creek Maintenance | City of Wollongong.