Current plans on public exhibition
We are seeking feedback on key elements that will inform the development of the draft Floodplain Management Plan for the Lachlan Valley as part of Stage 1 public consultation. Public consultation runs from Monday 2 March to Sunday 19 April 2026.
Recent engagement activities
Stage 2 public exhibition: Billabong Creek and NSW Murray Valley Floodplain Management Plans
The department held Stage 2 public exhibition for the draft Billabong Creek and NSW Murray Valley Floodplain Management Plans from 29 September to 16 November 2025. Individual online appointments with departmental staff from 13 October–7 November 2025. We are reviewing the submissions received and will publish a summary of what we heard soon.
Stage 1 public consultation for the draft Billabong Creek Floodplain Management Plan was held from 8 October – 25 November 2024. Read a summary of the feedback we received.
Stage 1 public consultation for the draft NSW Murray Valley Floodplain Management Plan was held from 20 May – 30 June 2024. Read a summary of the feedback we received.
Aboriginal engagement
As part of the development of floodplain management plans in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lachlan valleys, we are engaging with Aboriginal communities about the protection of cultural assets and values on these floodplains.
Information sessions were previously held in:
- Balranald in November 2024
- Griffith in September 2024
- Deniliquin and online in August 2024
- Balranald in March 2024
- Hay in February 2024
- Narrandera, Darlington Point and Deniliquin in August 2023
- Hay and Balranald in September 2023
- Lake Cargelligo in October 2023
- Forbes, Condobolin, Darlington Point, Narrandera, Deniliquin and Moama in November 2023
- Forbes and Condobolin in November 2025.
Contact us at floodplain.planning@dpie.nsw.gov.au for more information about the sessions.
Fact sheet
Read more information about the southern floodplain management plans in the First Nations information on rural floodplain management plans fact sheet.
Information sessions about the southern floodplain management plans
Information sessions were held in Jerilderie, Deniliquin, Moama, Barham, Forbes, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston, Narrandera, Darlington Point, Hay and Moulamein from 14 to 28 June 2023. Over 100 people attended to provide information about recent floods to help us understand flood behaviour in the Murray (including the Edward, Wakool, Niemur, Tuppal and Bullatale floodplains), Murrumbidgee, Billabong Creek and Lachlan valleys.
The department collected photographs, drone imagery or descriptions of flood behaviour from the 2022 floods and talked to attendees about the floodplain management plans.
Report
Read more about what we heard during initial consultation on rural floodplain management plans in the southern Murray–Darling Basin.