NSW Government
Water

Lachlan Valley floodplain

The department is developing a whole-of-valley floodplain management plan for the Lachlan Valley floodplain.

Tall scraggly trees lining the banks of the Lachlan river
Expired

Important information

The localised floodplain management plans for the Lachlan Valley expired on 30 June 2026. For more information about the assessment of flood work approval applications in areas without an in-force floodplain management plan, please read the technical guidelines.

The department is developing a whole-of-valley floodplain management plan under the Water Management Act 2000 for the Lachlan Valley. This will replace the 3 historical floodplain management plans that were originally developed under the Water Act 1912 and expired on 30 June 2026

Stage 1 public exhibition

Consultation on the draft Lachlan Valley Floodplain Management Plan has closed. We are currently reviewing submissions and will publish a What we heard report soon. The What we heard report will summarise the feedback we received during Stage 1 public consultation from 2 March to 19 April 2026.

To help you understand the key elements proposed you can: 

We will release the full draft floodplain management plan as part of a second round of public consultation later this year.

Recorded presentation

Lachlan Valley Floodplain Management Plan – Stage 1 public consultation

Watch the video
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Timeline

  1. March – April 2026

    Stage 1 public consultation

    You shared your feedback on key elements of the draft plan.

  2. Now

    Review

    We’re reviewing what you told us in Stage 1 public consultation and will share a summary of what we heard. We will develop the full draft plan using your feedback to inform that development. 

  3. October 2026

    Stage 2 public exhibition

    We’ll present the full draft plan for your feedback.

     

  4. Late 2026

    Review feedback and refine the plan

    We’ll review what you tell us in Stage 2 public exhibition and refine the draft plan. If required, we may seek further feedback from affected landholders.

  5. Early 2027

    Endorsement

    Meet with the Interagency Working Group to seek endorsement of the final plan before submitting it for approval to the Minister for Water and seeking concurrence from the Minister for the Environment.

  6. Early to mid 2027

    Commencement

    The plan is published on the NSW Legislation website and is given legal status.

Assistance

If you require assistance in reading these documents, please contact 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au