Floodplain management and development advice
Floodplain management
We assist with the preparation of flood studies, to understand flood behaviour and create strategies, to manage the existing flood risk and guide future development on floodplains. The community can use the department’s floodplain mapping web tool and/or request site-specific advice to obtain information about flood risk in their area.
Floodplain mapping tool
The floodplain mapping tool makes it easy for the community to learn about flood risk in their area. Users can view floodplain maps and flood levels, where available, as well as floodplain development strategies. The tool is also useful for industry, especially those in the property sector.
The floodplain maps provided are intended to be used for general interest and as a land use planning guide. The information presented may be important when you are:
- buying a new property
- building a new house
- planning a new subdivision
- developing a personal response plan to minimise the impact of flooding on your property
- purchasing flood insurance
- performing property valuations.
The floodplain mapping displayed in the tool is the defined flood event for land use planning, in most cases the 1 in 100 (or 1%) annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event (previously referred to as the 100-year annual recurrence interval (ARI) event).
More information
Contact your local government authority for information on building controls regarding major river flooding.
For site-specific flood advice contact flood@dwer.wa.gov.au.
The maps should not be used by the public to make decisions during a flood emergency. During a flood emergency the public should visit the Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Main Roads websites for warnings and information.