As recently as May 2025, numerous river systems in New South Wales (NSW) rose to dangerous levels after days of relentless rain. Entire neighbourhoods across the territory vanished underwater. Roads turned into rivers, and thousands of residents were forced to evacuate by boat and helicopter.
Not only were many lives put in danger, but the cost of damage to property was staggering.
What’s concerning is that this kind of flooding is becoming more frequent, year after year. In addition to its rising frequency, flooding is also becoming more intense and disruptive than in the past.
In the face of rising climate volatility, it’s not enough now for councils to merely respond to such disasters. They need to anticipate them. Building resilience isn’t optional anymore. It's a responsibility.
With this in mind, future-proofing NSW communities against flooding needs to start with proactive infrastructure planning.
Flood Modelling As The Cornerstone Of Smart Planning
As a result of the rising frequency of severe flooding, councils across NSW are under growing pressure to re-evaluate their infrastructure assumptions.
Where a culvert or drainage system might have been sufficient 20 years ago, changing rainfall patterns have made those same systems vulnerable and insufficient today. This means that robust flood modelling needs to play a key role in determining infrastructure upgrade needs.
At J Wyndham Prince, flood modelling is a layered, technical process that brings data, software and human expertise together to predict real-world flood behaviour, down to the metre and the minute.
Our team uses advanced 1D2D hydrodynamic simulations using industry lead software package like TUFLOW to analyse not just mainstream river flooding but also overland flow paths that can catch communities off guard.
This precision matters, as accurate modelling informs everything from the sizing of detention basins to the location of trunk drainage networks and the design of bridges or culverts that can withstand extreme storm events.
This information also feeds directly into council planning instruments and development controls, ensuring that every new development or infrastructure upgrade is built with the future in mind.
We’ve worked closely with councils and state government bodies to prepare floodplain risk management plans, time of inundation analyses, and even flood evacuation management strategies. Beyond regulatory compliance, these tools actively help councils protect the lives, assets and infrastructure of their communities. This is especially true in development areas adjacent to rivers, creeks and both natural and man made channel across Greater Sydney and regional NSW.
Planning For Uncertainty With Adaptable Infrastructure
The problem with climate change is that it’s dynamic and requires council planning to be adaptable. That’s why our approach at J Wyndham Prince integrates climate adaptation into every phase of infrastructure planning and delivery. We help councils rethink traditional stormwater systems, factoring in potential future climate conditions, such as longer wet seasons, more intense downpours, and even rising sea levels, without putting a stopper on urban growth or amenity our community not demand .
One way we do this is through water-sensitive urban design. These practical and buildable strategies help towns and cities coexist with water in a way that is sustainable for both the communities and the surrounding environment.
From on-site detention systems,wetland design, bioretention systems to natural waterway restoration, our goal is to manage water in a way that reduces flood risk while enhancing environmental outcomes.
Our experience also includes the development of urban stormwater master plans, which allow councils to phase in improvements over time while still maintaining serviceability in the present. For instance, we’ve helped coordinate stormwater harvesting strategies that double as both flood mitigation and sustainable water supply systems. The result is infrastructure that pays off twice.
One of the things that councils often struggle with is limited resources, so flexibility and efficiency are absolutely critical. That’s why our team also provides capital and ongoing cost estimates, as this helps stakeholders to prioritise the most effective interventions.
This makes us more than just engineers. We’re project managers, strategic advisors, trusted advisor and long-term partners.
Real People Require Real Outcomes
Our work has taken us into the heart of numerous local communities, from coastal towns managing creek crossings and overland flow paths to inner-city councils grappling with ageing stormwater infrastructure. At J Wyndham Prince, while we pride ourselves on the technical excellence we bring to each challenge, it’s the real-world outcomes that drive us.
When a council has the right information, the right partners, and the right plan, they’re equipped to be proactive, not just reactive. This makes them able to prevent unnecessary damage, guide responsible development, and provide peace of mind for residents who live near flood-prone areas.
At the end of the day, future-proofing communities in a changing climate is the new baseline for local governance.
Talk to J Wyndham Prince today about how flood modelling and smart infrastructure planning can help your council build resilience and protect your community.