Flood maps are updated regularly to account for expected rainfall and changing land use.
Climate change has impacted how rain falls in Melbourne. While annual rainfall is likely to decrease, studies show the occurrence of sudden storms and intense rainfall events will increase. Rising sea levels will also change how low-lying areas experience storm related flooding. By understanding the latest data on climate change and learning from previous flood events, we can build a more resilient city that is better prepared to respond to extreme weather.
In 2020, flood maps were updated for the most flood prone areas in the municipality. We are now working with Melbourne Water to develop flood maps for the remaining areas. This includes parts of Kensington, North Melbourne, Parkville, Carlton, West Melbourne, Docklands, CBD, East Melbourne and South Yarra.
These new maps will enable us to use the most up-to-date information to prepare our city for flooding. Your experiences with flooding in your local area will help ensure our maps reflect what happens on the ground.
How flood maps will be used
Having updated flood mapping is essential for understanding flood risk in the City of Melbourne. Flood maps inform the design of drainage upgrades and other flood solutions.
The updated flood maps will inform a future planning scheme amendment to make sure all new developments are designed with flood in mind. While on some cases, the mapping may not show any changes to expected flood extents, it is best practice to keep updated maps for all areas.
More information about how flood maps are used to inform the planning process is available at Amendment C384: Updates to inundation overlays, where flood mapping has informed an update of the planning scheme.
City of Melbourne will also use the updated flood maps in the design of any new infrastructure across the city.
Types of flooding
There are three main types of flooding: coastal, stormwater and riverine. Collectively, this is called inundation and must be managed as a system. When parts of our city experience flooding, it can cause damage to property, disruptions to transport or utility services, and put people’s wellbeing at risk.
- Coastal flooding: Flooding of low-lying areas by ocean waters caused by higher-than-normal sea level, due to king tides or storm-driven coastal events, including storm surges in lower coastal waterways.
- Stormwater flooding: Defined as inundation by local runoff caused by heavier than usual rainfall. It can result from local runoff exceeding the capacity of an urban stormwater drainage system or water backing up urban stormwater drainage systems.
- Riverine flooding: The covering of normally dry land by water that has escaped or been released from the normal confines of a lake, river, creek or other natural watercourse (whether or not altered or modified) or a reservoir, canal or dam.
The role of City of Melbourne in managing floods
City of Melbourne is responsible for an extensive network of underground drains which prevent stormwater from affecting property, footpaths and roads. We maintain and monitor these drains to minimise flooding. We also deliver new drainage systems to reduce flooding across the city.
You can report any blocked or flooded drains.
City of Melbourne have piloted a stormwater sensing project. These sensors are like real-time eyes and ears in our drainage system, monitoring water levels and blockages. Early detection and removal of blockages can prevent local flooding.
Learn more about Stormwater Sensing.
City of Melbourne reviews plans and permit applications in the municipality to make sure they meet flood management rules and regulations in the Melbourne Planning Scheme and advises where applications need to be referred to Melbourne Water.
City of Melbourne provides practical information about how your home or business can be better prepared for flood. This includes how to access emergency warnings and what plans you need to have in place for your family and pets.
You can find out more on our Prepared Communities page.
How this project relates to other flood projects
In 2024, Melbourne Water released the new Lower Maribyrnong River Flood Model which has been used to map flood extents in the Maribrynong River catchment. More information is available at Maribyrnong River flood maps. The model shows the extent of flooding caused by riverine flooding.
Our current flood mapping project will look at the flooding caused by stormwater. Some areas in Kensington and West Melbourne will experience both types of flooding. You can find out more information about types of flooding at Water and flooding in Melbourne.
Melbourne Water will be talking to our community about options to reduce flood risk for the Maribyrnong River Catchment. This will include residents and businesses in Kensington and West Melbourne.
This mapping project is not related the Maribyrnong River catchment flood mitigation study directly, but we know some residents are providing feedback to both projects. The teams at Melbourne Water and City of Melbourne are aware of both projects and can direct any questions to the right person.
Amendment C384 reflects the flood mapping updates undertaken in 2020 for selected areas with the City of Melbourne. In response to the mapping, the Melbourne Planning Scheme has been updated with new flood overlay maps and schedules. More information is available at Amendment C384: Inundation Overlays.
Our current flood mapping project will provide new maps for the areas not included in the Amendment C384 process.
More information on local flooding
To find out more information on flood risk in your area, visit the Victorian State Emergency Service Local Flood Guides.
To request specific flood information for your property, please call Melbourne Water on 131 722 or email enquiry@melbournewater.com.au.
For more information on requesting property flood risk information, visit Melbourne Water.
Please note, if you need assistance during a flood or storm emergency, call the Victorian State Emergency Service on 132 500. If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 000.
