Creek Maintenance

In Wollongong, we have a network of waterways throughout our city. This includes creeks, lagoons and stormwater channels.

Aside from the ones that are managed by Council and other government bodies, the rest are the responsibility of private landowners.

If everyone does the right thing and maintains waterways on their land, it helps manage the risk of flooding by improving the flow of stormwater downstream and reducing blockage.

You can also check out our Flooding in Wollongong YouTube playlist for more videos.

Plants and trees appropriate for waterway areas

Here are some ways you can get advice from Council about different types of plants and trees you can plant around waterways:

Read Chapter 23 of the Wollongong Development Control Plan PDF, 359.11 KB.
Our Greenplan Nursery at Wollongong Botanic Garden has native plants available for sale to Wollongong residents. Horticulturalists are at each sale and can give you advice about plant selection.
Our Grow Local Illawarra Natives Garden Guide PDF, 3296.84 KB can help you select plants that are native to our region.
Contact our Customer Service team to ask for help.

You can also get help from outside Council, for example:

Talk to your own qualified arborist
Engage specialist bushland regeneration contractors
Ask Landcare for advice if you have a large property.

What you can do around your yard to help keep waterways clean

Make sure you don’t put anything along a waterway that could get washed into the water. This can include grass clippings, other garden cuttings or chemicals.

Remove any obstacles alongside a waterway that could cause blockages or divert stormwater, such as:

Stockpiled building materials
Car parts
Garden furniture
Gardening equipment
Play equipment
Big piles of mulch, rocks or soil
Shopping trolleys
Bins.

Find out whether a waterway is your responsibility to look after

If you have your Property Title, check if it shows a drainage easement that benefits Council. If there's no easement, any creek or waterway is the responsibility of the property owner.

If you don't have your Property Title, you can apply for a copy through NSW Land Registry Services.

Council can also help you work out whether a waterway is on your land, and therefore your responsibility to maintain. Contact our Customer Service team for help.

Development near waterways

Please contact Council’s duty planner or your own qualified engineer for advice if you’re planning any kind of development on your land. This includes activities such as laying pipes, constructing a bridge or altering the alignment of a creek.

Erosion

If you have concerns about significant erosion on your property, ask your own appropriately qualified civil or stormwater engineer for advice.

Council's role in a flood

Council works with emergency services and other agencies to help plan for, deal with, and recover from floods.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) manages flood and storm emergencies.

Find out more about Council's role in flood and other emergencies and what you should do to stay safe in floods and storms.

Learn more about flooding

Check out these videos to learn more about flooding in Wollongong.

Resources for cleaning up

Here are some services that may help you clean up around your property:

Each household gets two free On-Call Household Cleanups each financial year. Visit the Wollongong Waste website to learn more or book a cleanup.
If your creek is near a public space, consider starting a Rise & Shine group, or taking part in Clean Up Australia Day activities.