The Cessnock Local Government Area faces flood risks from various sources. In Branxton, Greta, and Huntlee, flooding can result from heavy rainfall over surrounding creeks like Black, Anvil, and Sawyers Creek. Anvil Creek and Hunter River flooding are significant concerns, with Anvil Creek flooding affecting areas along its entire length due to rainfall over its catchments. Hunter River flooding impacts lower reaches and floodplains, extending even to Greta, though the town's higher elevation mitigates widespread flooding within. Kurri Kurri and its surrounding towns, including Abermain and Weston, are primarily affected by flooding from Wallis Creek, Swampy Creek, and Fishery Creek catchments. These floods often lead to road closures, like Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow and Mount Dee, isolating residents and causing detours. Flash flood warning systems, including sirens at strategic locations, are being installed to alert residents of rising creek levels.
The local information page provides valuable resources for your Local Government Area (LGA). You can explore flood information for your local river catchment through Local Flood Insights, access local flood plans and guides, and connect with local councils and NSW SES units.
Branxton and Greta
Branxton, Greta, and Huntlee face flood risks from Black, Anvil, and Sawyers Creeks. Anvil Creek flooding occurs along its entire length due to heavy rainfall over the Anvil and Red House Creek catchments. Hunter River flooding, driven by rainfall over the broader Hunter and Goulburn River catchments, can affect the lower reaches and floodplains of Anvil Creek, with the extent potentially reaching upstream to Greta. However, Greta, situated on higher ground, is unlikely to experience widespread flooding. Flooding on Anvil Creek and the Hunter River can occur independently or simultaneously, posing varying levels of risk to the area.
Kurri Kurri
This area includes surrounding small towns of Abermain, Heddon Greta, Cliftleigh, Mulbring, Neath, Pelaw Main, Loxford, Stanford Merthyr, Mount Vincent and Weston.
The area is primarily impacted by flooding from the Wallis Creek, Swampy Creek, and Fishery Creek catchments, with significant events in 2007, 2015, and 2022. Swamp Creek, originating in the Broken Back Range, flows through Neath, Abermain, and Weston before draining into Wentworth Swamp. Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow frequently floods, causing major detours between Maitland and Cessnock and restricting access to the Hunter Expressway.
During larger events, Cessnock Road at Mount Dee also floods, isolating thousands of residents in Gillieston Heights, as seen in the April 2015 event. Weston and Loxford are at risk during serious Swamp Creek events, with road closures at Abermain possible during floods exceeding 1% AEP. Cessnock Council has installed flood warning systems for Swamp-Fishery Creek and the Cessnock Urban Area, with proposed flash flood siren systems at Elizabeth Street in Abermain and Thomas Fell Park in Weston.