Lower Parramatta River Flood-Study 1986 With Cover

LOWER
PARRAMATTA RIVER
FLOOD STUDY
MARCH 2012
The following document entitled 'Lower Parramatta River Flood Study', which was prepared
for the NSW Public Works Department in 1986, contains important historical and reference
information regarding flooding in the Parramatta River and Powells Creek catchments.
It is published with permission.
I INI I INIÎNI1NINI1NlI NIil B
3/3
Wo rks Department
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LOW
PARR AM AT:TA RIVER

FLOOD STUDY
FEBRUARY 1986
M.G. GEARY
R.J. EAGLE
Chief Engineer
Principal Engineer
Public Works Department
Rivers and Ports Branch
REPORT No PWD 84017
PREPARED BY
WILLING & PARTNERS PTY LTD.
FOREWORD
LOWER PARRAMATTA RIVER FLOOD STUDY
The Government's Flood Policy is directed towards providing solutions
to existing flood problems in developed areas and ensuring that new
development is compatible with the flood hazard and does not create
additional flooding problems in other areas.
The management of flood liable lands rests with local councils, and
it is envisaged that, in applying the policy, councils will formulate
and implement floodplain management plans.
Such plans require the consideration and integration of complex
engineering and planning factors and to assist councils in this
regard the State Government provides specialist technical advice.
The advice may be provided directly by way of flood studies or
indirectly
by
the participation of Government Departments in
floodplain management studies or floodplain management committees
co-ordinated by council.
The Lower Parramatta River Flood Study provides the Councils of
Parramatta, Auburn, Ryde and Concord with information on the nature
and extent of flood hazard along the lower reaches of the river and
its tributaries.
This study represents the first phase of the development
of
appropriate management plans for the river and will enable the
respective councils to assess the need for specific floodplain
management studies prior to the adoption and implementation of
floodplain management plans.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
Page
FOREWORD
1.0
SUMMARY
2.0
INTRODUCTION
3.0
THE STUDY AREA

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.0
Plans and Surveys

Survey Datum
Rainfall
Flow Gauging Stations
Tides
Previous Studies
9
9
9
10
10
11
HISTORICAL FLOOD RECORDS

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
6.0
5
5
7
7
8
DATA SOURCES
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
5.0
General
Rivers and Main Tributaries
Urbanisation
Existing Hydraulic Features
Lennox Bridge
General
Commonwealth Government
State Government
Local Government
Libraries and Newspapers
Personal Interviews
Summary of Results of Historical Search
13
13
13
14
14
15
15
FLOOD ESTIMATES
6.1
6.2
General
Estimates Based on Historical Data at
18
Lennox Bridge - 1984

Estimates Based on Australian Empirical
18
6.3
Methods
Estimates Based on the Synthetic Unit
22
6.4
Hydrograph Method - 1984

Estimates Based on the Regional Stormwater
22
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
Model (RSWM - 1984)

Previous Flood Estimates
Design Floods
Effect of Retarding Basin Proposals
23
27
28
31
(i)
Page
Section
ESTIMATED FLOOD PROFILES
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
Introduction
Steady State Flow Model
Unsteady State Flow Model
Tidal Influences
Lower Parramatta River
Duck River
Haslams Creek and Powells Creek
Flow Distribution
33
33
33
34
35
36
38
39
8.0
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
40
9.0
REFERENCES
41
APPENDIX A
A.I.
A.2
PLANS AND SURVEY DATA

List of Plans and Drawings
List of Bench Marks
APPENDIX B
DAILY RAINFALLS IN EXCESS"OF 100 mm
APPENDIX C
C .1
FLOOD INFORMATION
List of Organisations Approached for
Historical Flood Level Information
Council Interviews
Flood Reports
Personal Interviews
Recorded Flood Levels
C .2
C .3
C.4
C.5
APPENDIX D
D.I.
D.2
APPENDIX E
E.1
E.2
FLOOD ESTIMATES DATA

Rational Method Flood Estimates for Parramatta
River - 1984
RSWM Subcatchment Details and Adopted Parameter
Values - 1984
UNSTEADY STATE FLOW MODEL, USTFLO
Program Description
Model Testing - Lower Parramatta River
(ii)
LIST OF TABLES
5.1
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
Summary of Historical Floods Identified

16
20
Daily Rainfall Records 1889, 1914 Storms
Analysis of Observed Floods at Lennox Bridge
21
Synthetic Unit Hydrograph Flood Estimates - 1984
23
Results of Calibration and Verification of RSWM - 1984 26
27
RSWM Flood Estimates with Synthetic Storms - 1984
27
Flood Estimates at Charles Street Weir - 1976
Flood Estimates at Lennox Bridge - 1980
28
Comparison of Flood Estimates
29
31
Adopted Peak Design Flows
LIST OF PLATES
1.
2.
1961 Flood at Lennox Bridge

1961 Flood downstream of Lennox Bridge
LIST OF EXHIBITS
1.
2.
3.
4,
5.
6.
7.
8.
.9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21-1
21-2
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Locality and Urbanisation Maps

Catchment Map
Location of Surveyed River Cross-Sections
Relationship Between Survey Datums
Rainfall Records
Locations of Rainfall Stations
Rainfall Frequency Curves. Parramatta
Positions of Observed Flood Levels
Flood Profiles at Lennox Bridge
Rating Curves for Lennox Bridge
Comparison of Flood Frequency Curves
Catchment Map showing Storm Isohyets, 9-10 Feb 1956
Catchment Map showing Storm Isohyets, 19 Nov 1961
Pluviograph Records March 1967 and June 1975
Diagrammatic Representation of the RSWM
Representation of Links in the RSWM
Catchment Map with Isochrones
Adopted Peak Design Flows
Tide Data for Lower Parramatta River
Lower Parramatta River Trial Flood Profiles
Lower Parramatta River 1%, 2% and 5% Flood Profiles
CH 1000 - 6100
Lower Parramatta River 1%, 2% and 5% Flood Profiles
CH 6100 - 10180
Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek 1%, 2% and
5% Flood Profiles
Lower Parramatta River and Tributaries Plan of 1%, 2%
and 5% Design Flood Levels
Lower Parramatta River and Tributaries 1% Flood
Distribution
Distribution
Distribution
(iii)
17
17
1.0
SUMMARY
Flood levels and discharge distributions have been computed
for the 1%, 2% and 5% probability floods for the Lower
Parramatta River from Charles Street Weir to Ryde Bridge and
for Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek to Mona
Street, the Western Freeway and Pomeroy Street respectively.
The study area is shown on Exhibit 1 (a) and the study limit
for determination of flood
information
shown
on
is
Exhibit 23.
A search of historical data was undertaken,
including
previous
studies,
governmental
records,
libraries,
newspapers, personal interviews and field inspections in
order
to determine the dates and extent of the most
significant floods. Information collected included rainfall
records, flood reports, historical developments, previous
studies, survey and mapping.
The historical search indicated that the Lower Parramatta
River experienced significant floods in 1889, 1914, 1956,
1961, 1967 and 1975. The largest of these occurred in 1889
and 1914 when the catchment was relatively undeveloped.
Data on historical floods is generally limited.
Only
Parramatta City Council, the MWS&DB and the Water Resources
Commission maintain systematic records of flooding in the
catchment, and most of this is limited to recent decades. It
should be noted that there has not been major flooding along
the river in recent years.
Several previous studies have been conducted into the Upper
Parramatta River. These include two major studies performed
The 1976
by the Consultant and others in 1976 and 1980.
Report was commissioned to investigate flood mitigation
options for the Upper Parramatta River catchment above
Charles Street Weir.
The 1980 Report was commissioned to
investigate in detail three of the flood mitigation options
and presented the results of physical hydraulic model testing
for Lennox Bridge, which is approximately 500 m upstream of
the study limit for this investigation.
Establishment of a rating curve from the model tests for
Lennox Bridge in 1980 and the availability of recorded peak
flood levels in the vicinity of Lennox Bridge enabled peak
discharges to be estimated for the six major historical
floods. Records of the rainfall which produced those floods
were also available.
However, the historical flood level data and discharge
estimates are not sufficiently detailed and. complete to
enable flood level probabilities to be defined by historicalevents
alone.
In addition the flood level data is
non-homogeneous because of increasing urbanisation and its
effects on flood runoff.
Accordingly estimates of the 1%, 2% and 5% probability floods

were made using a total of four different hydrological
methods: the Rational method, the Cordery-Webb
method,
independent study by Fitzgerald and the Regional Stormwater
Model (RSWM). After initial comparison of the results from
these methods with the historical floods, the RSWM was
subject to further verification against
the
estimated
historical discharges to confirm its suitability and was
selected as the most applicable method for estimating the 1%,
2% and 5% probability peak discharges. Using the RSWM also
enabled relevant catchment features to be modelled and
discharge hydrographs to be obtained as required throughout
the catchment.
Synthetic rainfall data for the 1%, 2% and 5% storms was
adopted from previously derived rainfall intensity-frequencyduration curves for Parramatta (Reference 2).
The critical storm duration for the Lower Parramatta River is`-)
generally different to the critical storm duration for its
tributaries. Therefore major flooding of the tributaries may
not coincide with major flooding on the Lower Parramatta
River. It was concluded that:
-
major flooding on the tributaries would be most likely to

result from localised storms,
major flooding in the Lower Parramatta River, as indicated
by historical flood data, would result from long duration
heavy rainfall generally over the entire catchment area.
Hydraulic analyses were undertaken for the Lower Parramatta

River and its tributaries, Duck River, Haslams Creek and
Powells Creek.
Survey for use in the hydraulic models was based
on
hydrographic survey of 10 km of portions of the Lower
Parramatta River undertaken in 1926, 1938, 1977, 1978 and
1979, checked against further survey of seven sections by the
PWD in 1983. Limited overbank survey was performed by the
Consultant.
Cross-sectional
survey
Duck
Creek
of
(11 locations), Haslams Creek (5 locations) and Powells Creek
(7 locations) was performed by the PWD in 1983.
The Lower Parramatta River was initially analysed using both
steady and unsteady flow hydraulic models. The unsteady flow
model is more representative of the actual physical river
system since it enables floodplain storage and tidal effects
to be taken into account. However, the steady state model,
being simpler in application, was also established to test
the sensitivity of flow and roughness parameters, and to
assess the applicability of the steady state model for final
design runs. The two models were in good agreement in the
reach below Charles Street; however, significant differences
in computed flood levels did occur in the lower reaches where
storage effects became important.
Comparison with the
limited historical data indicated that use of the unsteady
state flow model would be necessary for final design runs.
2
Accordingly
determining
River.
the unsteady flow model

was
adopted
for
design flood levels on the Lower Parramatta
Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek, where storage

effects were of less importance, were analysed using a steady
state flow model. The model parameter values for Duck River
were determined based on the limited historical data. The
analyses for the other two creeks were based on assessed
model parameter values in the absence of historical data.
The design flood levels for the Lower Parramatta River, Duck
River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek, derived using the
hydraulic model, are presented for the 1%, 2% and 5%
probability floods as:
Exhibit 21-1: Lower Parramatta River flood profile showing
design flood levels CH 1000-6100,
Exhibit 21-2: Lower Parramatta River flood profile showing
design flood levels CH 6100-10180,
Exhibit 22 : Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek
flood profiles showing design flood levels.
Exhibit 23 : Plan
flood levels,
of all watercourses showing design
Exhibit 24 : Plan of all watercourses showing the 1%

flood distribution and velocities.
2.0
INTRODUCTION
The first stage of the Government's Flood Policy involves the
determination of the nature and extent of the flood problem
through a Flood Study.
The aim of this study was to determine the 1%, 2% and 5%
probability flood levels and discharge distributions along
the Lower Parramatta River and major tributaries.
The
catchment area is shown on Exhibit 1 (a) and the limits for
determining flood information are shown on Exhibit 23.
The principal requirements of the study included:
(a)
the collection, collation and analysis of historical

flood data;
(b)
hydrologic catchment modelling to estimate flood peaks

and discharge hydrographs; and
(c)
determination of the 1%, 2% and 5% probability flood

for
discharge
information
and
existing
levels
conditions.
The upstream extremity for the study was the limit of tidal
influence
which is the weir at Charles Street.
The
downstream limit of the study was Ryde Bridge, where storm
tides become the dominant factor in determining flood levels.
Sections of Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek were
also studied, with the total length of watercourses involved
being in excess of 20 kilometres.
3.0
THE STUDY AREA
3.1
General
The study area, shown on Exhibit 1, comprised the catchments
of the Parramatta River and its tributaries between the Ryde
The area
Bridge at Uhrs Point and Charles Street Weir.
includes sections of the western and north-western suburbs of
Sydney. The major urban centre of Parramatta is located on
both sides of Parramatta River immediately upstream of the
study area. The study area was also taken to include the
arramatta River catchment upstream of Charles Street Weir
for the purposes of flood estimation.
Bridge
is
The total catchment area upstream of Ryde
The principal watercourses include Toongabbie
212 sq. km.
Creek and Darling Mills Creek, which join 3 km upstream of
Downstream of
Parramatta to form the Parramatta River.
Parramatta the major tributary is Duck River.
In the
south-east, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek drain into
Homebush Bay which is a tidal arm of the Parramatta River.
Catchment conditions range from hilly areas with steep-sided
gullies in the northern parts, to mangrove flats beside the
lower reaches of Parramatta River. The highest areas of the
catchment are at RL 180 m (AHD) but most of the catchment
varies between RL 10 m and RL 50 in.
The study area was divided into nine subcatchments, as shown
purpose of analysis.
the
These
Exhibit 2,
on
for
subcatchments corresponded to the main tributaries of the
river. Details of the subcatchments are given in Appendix D.
Although the catchment is not completely urbanised it is one
of the largest urban catchments existing in Australia. Since
development of the upper catchment is increasing, it can be
expected that future flood producing storms will cause higher
flood levels than those observed for similar storms in the
past.
The mean annual rainfall varies significantly over the
catchment. At Prospect Reservoir in the south-west (78 years
record) it is 864 mm, but in the north-east it rises to
1206 mm at Observatory. Hill, Sydney (79 years record). At
rainfall
Cumberland Forest (25 yârs record) the mean annual
is 1200 mm. Flood producing storms have been recorded at all
times of the year and show no significant seasonal trend.
Historical floods have resulted from major storms over the
Sydney region with daily rainfalls of 100 mm to 300 mm. These
flood producing storms have sometimes persisted for up to
five days.
3.2
Rivers and Main Tributaries

There are nine subcatchments with associated watercourses in
the study area as shown on Exhibit 2. The watercourses
include the tide affected river, steep natural creeks and
The following sections
man-made lined concrete channels.
5
describe the eight major watercourses relevant to the Lower

Parramatta River.
(a)
The focus of this study is the tide affected section of the

Parramatta River between Ryde Bridge and Charl,es__$treet_Weir,
at Parramatta . The weir acts as a tidal barrier limiting the
length_. of the tide affected reach to approximately 9.2 km.,
Most of this reach is considered to be a drowned river valley]
forming an arm of Port Jackson. Its width varies from about
300 m at Ryde Bridge to less than 50 m at Charles Street
Weir. The catchment areas at these two points are 212 sq. km'
and 108 sq . km respectively . The mean tidal range in this
reach is approximately 1.0 m.
(b)
Upper Parramatta River
Upstream from Charles Street Weir, the Parramatta River

extends as a well defined partially modified river to the
This
junction of Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek.
reach
is
approximately
2.5
km
long
and
contains
within
river
this section several weirs and the historic Lennox Bridge.
(c)
Toongabbie Creek
Toongabbie Creek and its tributaries drain urban areas

between W estmead and Blacktown . The total catchment area of
Prior to
70 sq, km has been developed largely since 1956.
most
of
the
catchment
was
used
for
farming,
and some
1950
number
of the
A
farms still remain in the Prospect area.
creeks have been channelised.
(d)
Darling Mills Creek
Development of Darling Mills Creek is limited to the edges of

the catchment and the main creeks ( Hunts Creek and Darling
Mills Creek ) are in a nearly natural condition . Large areas
of bushland and forest remain, including the Cumberland State
Forest. The catchment has an area of approximately 30 sq. km
and experiences higher average rainfalls than elsewhere in
the study area.
(e)
Vineyard Creek and Subiaco Creek
Vineyard Creek and Subiaco Creek drain undulating to hilly

The creeks are
terrain between Rydalmere and Eastwood .
flooding
has been
Localised
narrow and relatively steep.
reported along both creeks.
(f)
Duck River
Duck River and its tributaries , A'Becketts Creek and Duck

Creek, drain densely urbanised land between Granville and
The flat terrain attracted early development.
Yagoona.
There is little open space in the catchment except for a
strip of parkland along Duck River.
6
(g)
These two creeks drain urban areas extending from Lidcombe to

The part of the
Strathfield, south of Parramatta Road.
catchment north of Parramatta Road is mostly flat and
undeveloped. Both creeks flow into Homebush Bay.
3.3
Urbanisation
Parramatta is the second oldest European settlement in
Australia, having been established in 1788 as a farming
centre. In the early 1800s it had a larger population than
Sydney itself and in the 19th century settlement gradually
increased in the eastern half of the study area between
Parramatta and Sydney.
of
The rapid expansion in catchment urbanisation west
This is
Parramatta occurred within the last 30 years.
the
areas
apparent from Exhibit 1(b) which indicates
urbanised in the Upper Parramatta River catchment at various
times since the last century. The figure has been compiled
including
old maps and aerial
various
sources
from
photographs.
3.4
Hydraulic Features
The locations of existing hydraulic features are shown on
Exhibit 2 and include:
(a)
Lake Parramatta
The dam forming Lake Parramatta was constructed as a
town water supply in 1857 and was increased to 13 m in
height in 1898. The dam now provides a recreational
facility surrounded by bushland.
The dam has a spillway approximately 100 m in length.
No significant routing effect would result during the
passage of floods through the reservoir because the
spillway crest length is relatively long compared to the
directly
storage area and flood flows would pass
through.
(b)
Charles Street Weir

Charles Street Weir separates the tidal section of the
Parramatta River from the non-tidal section. The weir
is a concrete structure with a curved crest, 80 m in
length and a height of 2 m. It backs up the water in
the Parramatta River to the Marsden Street Weir.
(c)
Marsden Street Weir

This weir, which is situated upstream of the Marsden
Street Bridge, was constructed in 1818 for town water
supply purposes. It is a stone wall 80 m long and 3.7 m
high.
The weir creates a lake with the backwater
reaching approximately 1.3 km upstream of the weir.
(d)
Parramatta Park - Weir 1

This weir is a low-level crossing for vehicles.
It is
of concrete construction, curved in plan, 45 m long and
2 m high. It causes little backup of water in the
river.
(e)
Parramatta Park - Weir 2

This weir is a more substantial structure than Weir 1.
It was built from local sandstone blocks in 1831 and was
also a water supply source for Parramatta.
The height
of the structure is 2.5 m and its length is 40 m. The
weir
the
ornamental pool behind
stretches
back
approximately 0.8 km along the. Parramatta River.
3.5
Lennox Bridge
Lennox Bridge is situated in the business district of
Parramatta and carries Church Street over the Parramatta
River. Lennox Bridge was built in 1839 and has been listed
by the National Trust. The bridge is a single arch with less
waterway area than comparable modern bridges . The effect of
the bridge on floods is detailed in Section 6 .2 of this
report.
4.0
DATA SOURCES
4.1
Plans and Surveys

All available maps, plans and reports of relevance have been
obtained and used in this study. The list of drawings is
presented in Appendix A.
Additional survey work was carried out by both the Consultant
and
the
Works
Department to determine river
Public
are
on
cross-sections, the locations of which
shown
Exhibit 3.
4.2
Survey Datum
The survey plans and other information referred to in Section
4.1 show levels on a variety of datums. Information on the
location of bench marks was obtained from the MWS&DB, Lands
Department, DMR, local Councils and the Australian Survey
Office.
For consistency all
metric
units
to
relationship of the
Appendix A contains
within the catchment.
4.3
levels in this report are expressed in

Australian Height Datum (AHD).
The
various datums 'is shown on Exhibit 4.
a list of bench marks used for survey
Rainfall
4.3.1
Historical Rainfall Records
Daily rainfall data for the full period of record from each
of 39 daily rainfall stations, as shown on Exhibit 5, were
obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology. This data was used
to identify dates of high rainfall and hence the dates for
which records of flooding may be available (Section 5).
The
daily rainfall information was also used to define the areal
distribution of rainfall for major flood producing storms
which were used in the hydrologic modelling studies described
in Section 6.
Pluviograph records were obtained for several stationsìn the
study area and these were used to define the temporal pattern
The
of rainfall in the modelling studies referred to above.
periods of record available from the pluviograph stations are
also shown on Exhibit 5.
The locations of the daily rainfall and pluviograph stations

used in this study are shown on Exhibit 6.
Potential flood producing' storms were identified by obtaining 5
the dates when daily rainfall exceeded 100 mm for rainfall
stations at Parramatta, Lidcombe Golf Club and Ryde Pumping
Station. The data used is presented in Appendix B.
4.3.2
Rainfall Intensity-Frequency-Duration Curves
The rainfall intensity-frequency-duration curves derived are

shown on Exhibit 7. These IFD curves were previously derived
by the Consultant for the Parramatta
River
catchment
(Ref. 2).
Comparison with more recent data (Ref. 3) showed
negligible differences, hence the previous results were
adopted.
4.3.3
Rainfall Temporal Patterns
Rainfall temporal patterns for historical storms were derived

records of the pluviograph stations presented on
from
Exhibit 6.
Temporal patterns for synthetic storms were
derived from the patterns given in Reference 3 for Sydney.
4.4
Streamflow Gauging Stations

In 1979, two streamflow gauging stations (WRC Nos. 213004 and
213005) were established by the WRC upstream from Lennox
Bridge. They are located on the Parramatta
River
at
Parramatta Hospital upstream of Marsden Street Weir and on
Toongabbie Creek upstream of Briens.Road bridge respectively.
Their locations are shown on Exhibit 2.
Since 1979 only a few minor storms have occurred, the largest
flow gauged to date being 83.0 m3/s on 21st March 1983, at
station 213004.
4.5
Tides
Tide observations for Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) are made
by the MSB at Fort Denison, 14 km downstream of Ryde Bridge.
All tidal observations are related to the zero of the Fort
Denison tide gauge, at RL -0.925 m (AHD).
The mean tidal range is 1.07 m at Fort Denison and 1.12 m at
Ryde Bridge.
The highest recorded tides at Fort Denison
were:
26 May 1880
10 June 1956
25 May 1974
1.505 m (AHD)
1.435 m (AHD)
1.445 m (AHD)
The MSB provided a frequency curve for high tides for the 30
year period from 1916 to 1945 at Fort Denison.
The PWD provided details of tidal current measurements
carried out on 2nd February 1983. On this date, 4 days after
a full moon, the predicted tidal range at Fort Denison was
1.5 m which is a high, but not extreme, Spring Tide. There
was no significant inflow from the tributaries because the
test date was preceded by a long dry period. Tidal elevations
and velocity profiles were measured at three locations
between Ryde Bridge and McArthur Street Bridge.
The effects of the tidal influences on flood levels is
discussed in Section 7.4.
10
4.6
Previous Studies
4.6.1
1975 Preliminary Report
In 1975 the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC)

undertook a preliminary study of flooding and water quality
problems in the non-tidal section of the Parramatta River
catchment above the Charles Street Weir in Parramatta.
In the report (Ref. 4) it was recommended that a more
detailed study be undertaken of flood problems which were
being aggravated by increasing
catchment
urbanisation.
Recommendations
were
also made for the collection of
additional rainfall, runoff and water quality data.
4.6.2
1976 Report
The engineering investigations conducted for the 1976 report

(Ref. 2) covered two possible drainage and flood mitigation
schemes for the Parramatta River catchment. The first scheme
investigated was a conventional stormwater drainage system
consisting of concrete-lined channels at an estimated cost of
approximately $22 million.
The second scheme proposed included up to 22 flood retarding
basins. The estimated cost of this system was $11 million.
The 1976 Repor t recommended implementation of the basin
system.
This recommendation has been partially implemented
at the present time.
4.6.3
1978 Report
In 1978 an inter-departmental committee, comprising the WRC,

PWD, MWS&DB, and the Department of Local Government, was
formed to examine flood mitigation requirements in the
Parramatta
River catchment.
The Committee recommended
(Ref. 5) that further and more comprehensive flood mitigation
investigations should be carried out prior to adoption of the
scheme proposed in the 1976 Report.
4.6.4
1980 Report
Towards the end of 1978, WRC became active in floodplain

management in the Parramatta River catchment upstream of
Charles Street Weir. This led to the commissioning of SMEC
and Willing & Partners Pty Ltd as joint consultants to
undertake a more detailed investigation of flood mitigation
proposals.
The ensuing 1980 Report (Ref. 6) dealt primarily with four of
the retarding basins proposed on Toongabbie Creek and Darling
Mills Creek and flood problems in the central business area
of Parramatta.
The report also included a review of the
previous recommendations for the remainder of the valley
upstream of Charles Street Weir.
11
4.6.5
1981 Report
The April 1981 report by SMEC and Willing & Partners Pty Ltd
(Ref. 7) dealt with design modifications to two retarding
basins on Toongabbie Creek.
4.6.6
Subiaco Creek - Ponds Creek Drainage Study
This study was carried out for Parramatta City Council in

1980 by Willing & Partners Pty Ltd (Ref. 8). The study
reviewed proposed retarding basin systems for the Subiaco
Creek catchment, and recommended a system of up to six
basins.
4.6.7
Haslams Creek Drainage Study
This study was- commissioned by Auburn Municipal Council (Ref.

9) and examined the flooding potential of the section of
Haslams Creek downstream of Parramatta Road.
4.6.8
Pendle Hill Creek Trunk Drainage Study
A detailed investigation of a retarding basin on Pendle Hill

Creek, a- tributary of Toongabbie Creek, was carried out for
Holroyd Municipal Council (Ref. 10).
4.6.9
Greystanes Creek Trunk Drainage Study
This study carried out detailed investigation of

five
possible retarding basin sites on Greystanes Creek (Ref. 11).
12
5.0
HISTORICAL FLOOD RECORDS
5.1
General
The earliest recorded flood in the Parramatta River occurred
in 1795. In the ensuing years, many other floods of varying
severity have been recorded.
Unfortunately, most of the
records were of insufficient accuracy to enable the flood
levels to be determined reliably. All relevant flood height
records located are listed in Appendix C and the locations at
which the records were taken are shown on Exhibit 8.
Information was sought for flood levels on the Lower
Parramatta River and on the major tributaries of Vineyard and
Subiaco Creeks to the north and the Duck River, Haslams Creek
and Powells Creek to the south.
Sources approached for
information included Commonwealth and
State
Government
Government Authorities,
Departments, - State
and
Local
metropolitan and local newspapers, libraries and historical
societies.
authorities
and other
The
departments,
listed
in
organisations
approached
are
Appendix C.
interviews
were
Furthermore,
personal
conducted with
residents and business proprietors of properties near the
Parramatta River and its tributaries.
Where information was available, the historical flood levels
were surveyed and reduced to AHD,
5.2
Commonwealth Government
Newington Armaments Depot, owned by the Department
of
Defence, has a river frontage on the south bank of the
Parramatta River extending over 1.2 km downstream from
Jamieson Street.
Much of this frontage is mangrove swamp.
There are no records of flooding or flood heights at this
location.
The officers at the Department of Defence Naval Stores at
Rydalmere, on the north side of the river between Silverwater
give
Road and Spurway Street, were able to
a
good
recollection of flood heights.
These were most likely to
have been observed during the 1974 flood.
The floodwaters
covered the concrete floor of Stores No. 4 and 5 to a depth
of 100 mm. The average floor height is RL 1.40 AHD.
The
adopted flood level is RL 1.50 (Flood level No. 30 in
Appendix B-2 and Exhibit 8).
Tide affected flooding is significant at this site, with
regular minor overtopping of the banks during high spring
tides.
5.3
State Government
5.3.1
Water Resources Commission
In 1979 the Water Resources Commission established stream

gauging stations in the study area on Toongabbie Creek and
13
the Parramatta River (Section 4.4).

No significant floods
have occurred since these stations were installed.
5.3.2
State Rail Authority
The flood of May 1889 inundated the railway bridge over Duck
River approximately 3.5 km upstream of the confluence with
the Parramatta River. Reports made in 1889 indicated that
the bridge which was submerged had a waterway opening
approximately 8 metres wide, while the present structure,
dating back to at least 1905, is over 18 metres wide. This
suggests that the values for the high water levels given for
the 1889 flood are of little relevance to the present
situation.
Site observations confirm that the existing bridge structure
has been substantially altered a number of times in the past.
Examination of SRA files revealed no references to flooding
in any of the areas covered by this report.
5.3.3
Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board
A considerable number of flood records were obtained from the

Board for the period from May 1943 to July 1975. This
included internal reports ,
correspondence ,
levels
and
Much of the information related to the severe
photographs .
25th April,
localised
storm
1974,
on
in
the
Merrylands - Granville region, all outside the study area.
The Board ' s reports indicate that most of the flooding in the
study area could be described as "local nuisance flooding"
generally caused by constrictions and blockage of waterways
or inadequately sized drainage channels and culverts.
5.4
Local Government
The area under consideration comes under the control of four
Local Government bodies, those of Auburn Municipal Council,
Concord Municipal Council, Parramatta City Council and Ryde
Municipal Council. These councils were supplied with a list
of dates when heavy rainfall occurred and flooding may have
resulted. Parramatta City Council was the only Council which
maintained detailed flood records and a total of 29 levels
was obtained. Summaries of Council interviews are presented
in Appendix C.
5.5
Libraries and Newspapers

The main sources of old newspaper files were the State
Library of NSW and the Mitchell Library. The libraries at
Parramatta and Ermington were also investigated but held no
relevant information that was not available in the State
Library.. The Parramatta Historical
Society was approached
but no'records of value in assessing historical flood levels
were located.
The Cumberland Press made their library
available for research but again no useful flood information
was located. Newspaper reports accounted for three flood
levels of poor to fair accuracy as the information is
14
generally non-specific.
A summary of the relevant reports located is presented in
Appendix C.
5.6
Personal Interviews
Personal interviews were conducted with people living or
working near the Parramatta River and its main tributaries in
order to obtain additional information on historical
floods.
Only
interviewees
provided
useful and factual
seven
information. However, personal interviews (data accuracy: 6
poor, 1 fair) were the least reliable source of flood level
information.
A summary of the information obtained from the interviews is
in Appendix C.
5.7
Summary of Results of Historical Search

All flood level reports are assigned a reference number and
appear in Appendix C and on Exhibit 8.
The more recent
floods of 1956, 1967, 1969, 1974 and 1975 provided the best
flood level information.
The flood levels recorded at Lennox Bridge (outside the study
area) for the 1889, 1914, 1956, 1961 and 1967 floods are
useful because a rating curve (Ref. 6) has been established
for the bridge and thus flows could be estimated for those
floods.
A summary of reported floods is presented in Table 5.1.
15
TABLE 5.1
SUMMARY OF HISTORICAL FLOODS IDENTIFIED
Date of
Flood
Damage
No. of Flood
Levels
Obtained
1795 - Bridge (in Parramatta) washed away

1806 - Heavy storms reported
1809 - Heavy storms reported
1826 - Bridge damaged
June 1864 - Bridge washed away
27th May 1889 - Substantial damage occurred
21st March 1914 = Widespread flooding and damages
7th July 1931 - Intense storms but no damage reported
29th September 1943 - Intense rainfall. Little damage reported
February 1956 - Smith St. footbridge under 6 ft (1.83m)
of water
November 1961 - Widespread damage reported
6th March 1967 - Minor flooding in northern tributaries
15th April 1969 - Parramatta River flooding
16th October 1972 - A'Becketts Creek local flooding
25th April 1974 - Severe thunderstorm, Granville area.
Flooding of Duck River and tributaries
March 1975 - Heavy rain in coastal and southern suburbs.
No flood damage reported in study area
21st June 1975 - A storm produced rises in river levels but
no flooding was reported. Some flood
height observations were made by
Parramatta City Council
4th March 1977 - High river levels, no flooding
20th March 1978 - High river levels, no flooding
2nd November 1981 - High river levels, no flooding
1
1
5
1
7
5
1
9
-
4
1
1
1
TOTAL 37
16
rLN:r
PLATE 2
1961 Flood at Lennox Bridge
1961 Flood downstream of Lennox Bridge

17
6.0
FLOOD ESTIMATES
6.1
General
The flood hydrology of the upper catchment above Charles
Street Weir was investigated in earlier reports (Refs 2 & 6).
The flood estimates prepared as part of this study extend the
flood hydrology studies downstream from Charles Street Weir
These new estimates incorporate some
to Ryde Bridge.
historical flood data which was not located during the
earlier studies.
Despite the long history of flooding in the catchment,
conventional flood frequency analysis of historical floods
was not practicable because:
(a)
flood level and flood discharge data for historical

storms in this section of the river are deficient,
(b)
the catchment has undergone a gradual transition from a

natural to an urban condition hence making the limited
available data non-homogeneous,
( c)
flood heights may be influenced by tidal movements.
appropriate
Because of these limitations : a number of
alternative flood estimation techniques were used to estimate
These methods were the
flows and the results compared .
rating curve at. Lennox Bridge in conjunction with recorded
flood levels , an independent method developed for the ACT
(Fitzgerald ), the Rational Method, the Cordery-Webb synthetic
Consultant's
unit hydrograph method and
the
Regional
Stormwater Model ( RSWM ). In addition , estimates produced in
previous studies using a range of analytical methods, were
included for comparison purposes.
Sophisticated analytical methods cannot entirely overcome the
difficulties and uncertainties created by poor or limited
be
calibrated
data.
However , if the model can
to
satisfactorily reproduce recorded events, it is considered
acceptable.
6.2
Estimates Based on Historical Data at Lennox Bridge - 1984

6.2.1
Rating Curve
The probability of a flood may be estimated from observations

taken at a fixed point on the river over a period of years.
For accurate estimates of the 1% probability flood three
criteria must be satisfied . These are:
(a)
(b)
the annual maximum flood peak discharges in each year of

record must be known with reasonable accuracy,
the sample period of record must be representative i.e.
to
estimate
the 1% probability flood, more than
100 years of record should be available, and
18
(c)
the record must be homogeneous, i.e. contain no physical

changes such as catchment urbanisation or drainage
modifications which affect the nature of the record with
time.
None of these criteria is fully satisfied for the Parramatta

River though the historical search produced flood level
information recorded at Lennox Bridge over a long period.
This data constituted the majority of the flood level data
used in this study.
In the 1980 Report for Lennox Bridge a rating curve was
presented from hydraulic model studies of the Parramatta
River between Charles Street Weir and a point approximately
65 m upstream of Marsden Street Weir near the WRC stream
flood
profiles,
for
Four
gauging station (213004).
discharges of 125, 540, 791 and 1000 m3/s, were also derived
during the model studies and these are shown on Exhibit 9.
These profiles were used in the derivation of the rating
curve for Lennox Bridge. This rating curve is affected by
drawdown through Lennox Bridge; its location is shown on
Exhibit 9. Accordingly, a new rating curve was prepared for
a point just upstream of Lennox Bridge outTside the influence
The location of the new
of the bridge drawdown effects.
curve is also shown on Exhibit 9. The new curve was derived
by transposing the flood levels at the desired location from
the four flood profiles plotted on Exhibit 9 to Exhibit 10;
the resultant curve is designated (1).
The curve designated (2) on Exhibit 10 is also transposed
from Exhibit 9. This curve is the tailwater curve and gives
the flood levels immediately downstream of Lennox Bridge.
The large difference between upstream and downstream flood
levels is apparent from curves (1) and (2) and is greater
than 3.5 metres for a flood of 1000 m3/s.
This curve
A third curve (3) is also shown on Exhibit 10.
was estimated from the sluice gate formula (Ref. 12). The
sluice gate formula could not be expected to correspond to
the derived rating curve (1) at low heads as the bridge
opening would not act like a sluice until fully submerged.
For flood levels greater than RL 9.5 the difference between
the flood discharges by the two curves is less than 5% and
the curves appear to converge. Hence, curve (3) increases
the confidence in the reliability of the rating curves
derived from hydraulic model studies for higher order floods
with downstream submerged conditions.
6.2.2.
Analysis of Observed Floods at Lennox Bridge
Available rainfall records were analysed so as to enable a

probability of exceedance to be assigned to the five largest
observed floods, which occurred, in order of decreasing flood
level, in 1889, 1914, 1956, 1967 and 1961.
Rainfall values have been analysed rather than the estimated
discharges since there has been a significant change in
The
catchment conditions during the period of record.
19
largest floods, 1889 and 1914, occurred when the catchment

was relatively undeveloped.
Should the flood producing
rainfall of these storms be repeated today, the magnitude of
the observed flood levels would exceed those originally
observed.
Daily rainfalls for the 1889 and 1914 storms are shown in
Table 6.1.
No pluviograph data was available for these
storms. Critical rainfall periods and temporal patterns were
assumed on the basis of historical reports. For the 1956,
1961 and 1967 storms the flood producing rainfall was
identified from the pluviograph records at Ryde.
TABLE 6.1
DAILY RAINFALL RECORDS ( mm) 1889, 1914 STORMS
Rainfall
Station
Epping
Parramatta
Prospect
West Pennant Hills
26th
108
80
-
May 1889
27th
28th
115
89
-
294
314
-
March 1914
23rd
24th
53
47
56
223
117
245
Rainfall from the flood producing burst was assigned a

probability based on the intensity-frequency-duration curve
(Exhibit 7).
Additionally, the five highest observed flood levels at
Lennox Bridge were plotted on the rating curve ( Exhibit 10)
in order to estimate the peak discharge at the bridge during
these floods.
The results of analysis of the observed floods are presented
in Table 6.2 and they are plotted on Exhibit 11.
The effect
of increasing urbanisation is not distinguishable on the
plotted curve due to the small sample size.
20
TABLE 6.2
ANALYSIS OF OBSERVED FLOODS AT LENNOX BRIDGE
Flood
Dates
Floods
Rainfall
Critical
Storm
Duration
(hours )
(3)
Rainfall
Probab ' y
(1)
Critical
Rainfall
Depth
(mm)
(2)
1889
1914
2
3
112 (7)
106 (8)
4
3
1%- 2%
1%- 2%
1956
1967
1961
10
3
9
125 (9)
80 (10)
92 (11)
8
5
3.5
5%-10%
10%-20%
5%-10%
No. of
Stations
Available
(%)
(4)
Observed Rated
Level Discharge
( m AHD )
( 5)
7.9
7.3
( m3/s)
(6)
790
710
6.34
585
6.10
550
5.8-6.3 510-580
Notes
(1)
The total number of daily rainfall stations used to calculate the

catchment average rainfall depths for the Parramatta River
catchment above Charles Street Weir.
(2) The rainfall depth for the most intense storm period obtained
from pluviographs or assumed rainfall patterns which caused peak
flood levels.
(3) The duration of the rainfall in (2) which caused peak flood
levels.
(4) Derived from Exhibit 7 in conjuction with (2) and (3).
(5) Actual recorded flood level at Lennox Bridge.
(6) Estimated discharge derived from Lennox Bridge rating curve,
Exhibit 10.
Data from (4) and (6) has been plotted on
Exhibit 11.
(7) Daily rainfalls only are available. The maximum one day rainfall
in the 3 day storm was 303 mm and a critical storm duration
within this one day period was estimated using the temporal
pattern in Ref. 3. This amounted to 112 mm or 37% of the one day
total in 4 hours.
(8) A critical storm period of 18 hours was adopted from historical
reports and a temporal pattern assumed from Ref. 3.
This
resulted in 106 mm or 38% of critical rainfall depth in 3 hours.
(9) Derived from Ryde pluviograph and rainfall isohyets (Exhibit 12).
catchment.
Ryde
upper
pluviograph
(10) Storm localised on
(Exhibit 14) recorded 60 mm in 24 hours while stations west of
Dundas recorded up to 149 mm. Average is 130 mm, of which 80 mm
is estimated to have fallen in the critical period.
(11) Derived from Ryde pluviograph and rainfall isohyets (Exhibit 13).
(12) Records for the 1889 and 1914 floods are for rural catchment
Records for the 1956, 1961 and 1967 floods are for
conditions.
the developed catchment.
21
6.3
Estimates Based on Australian Empirical Methods

6.3.1
Fitzgerald's Studies - 1983
Fitzgerald analysed the Parramatta River catchment in its

predevelopment state using the Pilgrim & McDermott Method
(Ref. 13). The estimated 1% probability rural flood was
710 m3/s.
The ultimate urban condition was analysed using a technique
Fitzgerald derived
for
the ACT (Ref. 14).
developed
correlation factors between catchments for which detailed
flood data was available (Woden Valley, Canberra, and Kedron
Brook, Brisbane). The 1% probability flood at Lennox Bridge
was estimated as 1020 m3/s.
flood
catchment
These 1% probability urban and rural
Exhibit
11
and
are
detailed
in
estimates are shown on
Reference 15.
6.3.2
The Rational Method - 1984
The Rational Method (Ref. 3) was used to estimate the 1%, 2%

and 5% -probability floods in the Parramatta River at the
Vineyard Creek and Duck River confluences and at Ryde Bridge.
The time of concentration at Charles Street Weir was adopted
as 1.9 hours, as determined (Ref. 2) from the analysis of
flows along major drainage paths. The times of concentration
for the three downstream points were then calculated by
adding on the time of travel of the flood to each of the
Flow velocities were estimated from the results of
points.
channel routing determined by a preliminary analysis using
the RSWM (Section 6.5).
The catchment data and flood estimates are
Appendix D and are shown on Exhibit 11.
given
in
The catchment areas modelled are much greater than the

recommended maximum of 25 km2 for this method, hence this
method may not be applicable to this catchment.
6.4
Estimates Based on the Synthetic Unit Hydrograph Method Offdeveloped

The e Cordery-Webb method (Ref. 16), which was
principally for rural catchments, was used to estimate the
1%, 2% and 5% probability floods in the Parramatta River.
temporal
standardised
The rainfall input consisted of
the
rainfall
intensity-frequencyand
Sydney
for
patterns
for
Parramatta
derived
previously
data
duration
The initial rainfall loss was taken as 5 mm
(Section 4.3).
The adopted rainfall
and the continuing loss as 2 mm/hr.
losses are identical to those used later in the RSWM and are
discussed in Section 6.5.3.
22
The analysis was carried out at two locations in the

catchment.
These were Charles Street Weir and Ryde Bridge.
The critical storm durations were found to be 2 hours and
12 hours, respectively.
The flood estimates obtained are
listed in Table 6.3.
TABLE 6.3
SYNTHETIC UNIT HYDROGRAPH FLOOD ESTIMATES - 1984
Flood Peak (m3/s)
Location
Charles St Weir
Ryde Bridge
Q1%
Q2%
Q5%
610
530
455
1108
966
824
to
rural
These flood estimates
correspond
catchment
conditions and no allowances can be made for the effects of
catchment urbanisation with this setiod. The estimated flood
of 610 m3/s at Charles Street Weir is shown on
peak
E.hibit 11 for comparison purposes.
6.5
Estimates based on the Regional Stormwater Model (RSWM) 1984

6.5.1
Background
The RSWM is described in Reference 17 and a diagrammatic

representation is given in Exhibit 15. A schematic plan of
the catchment subdivisions used in the analysis of the
Parramatta River in this study is shown in Exhibit 16, while
the isochronal areas are shown in Exhibit 17.
Historical rainfall and pluviograph data was applied to the
RSWM to reproduce recorded flows and then to model the
synthetic 1%, 2% and 5% probability floods.
other
sophisticated
rainfall-runoff
As
with
models,
successful application depends on the availability of basic
data which can be used to calibrate the model. The RSWM
requires records showing the temporal and areal variations of
flood producing storms. In the case of the Parramatta River
catchment the number and distribution of daily read rain
gauges was adequate for recent storms ( Exhibits 5 and 6) but
available for early flood producing
data
was
little
rainfalls.
After calibration, the 1%, 2% and 5% probability synthetic
floods were modelled and the results compared with estimates
by other methods.
23
6.5.2
Subcatchment Details
The ultimate percentage urbanisation of the upper portions of

the catchment to Charles Street Weir was calculated to be
84%. Inspection of recent developments showed that this
percentage development could be expected in the near future.
The urbanisation of areas downstream of Charles Street Weir
to Ryde Bridge was assessed from an examination of recent
1:25,000 and 1:4,000 scale orthophoto maps. Exhibit 2 shows
the existing urban, forest and major recreation areas in the
catchment. Appendix D contains details of the catchment
areas and slopes adopted for each subcatchment in this study.
The ultimate urbanisation, averaged over the whole catchment
to Ryde Bridge, is expected to be 78%.
Muskingum-Gunge channel routing was used to model the routing
effects of the main river channel downstream of the Charles
Street Weir because the channel, being a drowned river valley
(Section 3.2), is of much larger waterway area than that
required to carry the flow alone. Hence the routing effects
were judged to be significant and required application of the
Muskingum-Cunge channel routing option of the RSWM.
6.5.3
Calibration of RSWM
The RSWMM was initially calibrated using the 1956 and 19061
floods because the rainfall and flood data for these events
was the most comprehensive available. The rainfall data for
the 1956 and 1961 storms is presented on Exhibits 12 and 13
respectively. The temporal pattern for both storms was
derived from Ryde Pumping Station pluviograph data. Though
temporal
other pluviograph records were available, the
pattern exhibited at the various stations in each storm was
similar; hence the Ryde pluviograph data was considered to be
representative and was adopted . The rainfall depths varied
across the catchment as shown by the isohyets on the
appropriate exhibits . The isohyets were derived from all the
daily rainfall data in the catchment available at the
relevant times.
floods were
Urbanisation factors for each of the historical
estimated from aerial photography and historical data (see
Exhibit 1(b)).
Sensitivity analyses were performed using a range of assumed
values of rainfall losses and the computed discharges were
compared with the discharges at Lennox Bridge derived from
the observed flood levels ( Table 6.2 ). On the basis of these
analyses and the observation that flood-producing rainfall
often occurs after several hours of lighter rainfall it was
considered appropriate to adopt rainfall losses commensurate
with a wet catchment. The adopted values of rainfall losses
for all further analyses were 5 mm initial loss and 2 mm/hr
continuing loss. The catchment parameter values adopted are
presented in Appendix D.
The results of the calibration procedure using the adopted
values of rainfall losses are presented in Table 6.4. The
24
difference between the RSWM estimates and the discharges

derived from the rating curve at Lennox Bridge may be
attributed to factors such as the base flow rate, which could
be significant for a river of this size, variability of loss
rates between storms and variability of urbanisation factors.
Of these factors the base flow rate is regarded as the most
likely source of uncertainty for this river.
A further four historical flood levels were available at
Lennox Bridge and thus four further RSWM analyses were
performed to verify the initial results. The 1967 and 1975
storms had sufficient rainfall and pluviograph data available
to permit the floods to be modelled with
confidence.
Pluviograph data for these storms is presented on Exhibit 14.
The 1889 and 1914 storms (for which urbanisation was assumed
zero, but rainfall losses were unaltered)) occurred before
the establishment of any pluviograph station and hence only
the daily rainfall data was available. Rainfall totals and
temporal patterns were calculated by estimating a rainfall
duration on the basis of historical newspaper reports and
adopting appropriate temporal patterns from Ref. 3 for these
assumed - storm durations.
The 18.89 rainfall was assumed to
fall over 24 hours, while the 1914 rainfall was assumed to
fall over 18 hours. Estimated flood hydrographs were derived
using the RSWM, and the computed peak discharges
are
presented in Table 6.4 for comparison purposes.
Overall the RSWM estimates did not vary from the discharges
derived from the rating curve at Lennox Bridge by more than
7% and in the context of the available data the RSWM results
were considered to be satisfactory. No parameter values were
adjusted in subsequent runs.
25
TABLE 6.4
RESULTS OF CALIBRATION AND VERIFICATION OF RSWM - 1984
Date
Total Rainfall
on subcatchments:
--------------------------------Upstream of
Downstream of
Charles St. Weir Charles St. Weir
(mm )
(mm)
Peak Discharge
-------------Lennox
RSWM
Bridge Estimate
Rating
(m3/s)
(m3/s)
Calibration
Feb 1956
Nov 1961
220
110
220
140
585
510
584
490
303*
279*
140
85
303*
279*
145
92
790
710
550
110
754
682
512
118
Verification
May
Mar
Mar
Jun
*
1889
1914
1967
1975
No pluviograph data available, temporal pattern assumed.
6.5.4
Estimates with Synthetic Storms
The RSWM was then used to estimate the synthetic 1%, 2% and
5% probability floods throughout the catchment. The RSWM
parameter values used were as adopted from the
model
calibration and verification.
Rainfall temporal patterns
were adopted from Reference 3 and rainfall intensities from
Exhibit 7.
Synthetic storms with durations from 0.5 to 18.0 hours were
analysed in order to establish the critical storm duration
for all required locations from Charles Street Weir to Ryde
Bridge.
The critical storm duration was found to be 2 hours
at Charles Street Weir, 6 hours at the Duck River confluence
and 12 hours at Ryde Bridge. The 2 hour storm produced a
flood peak of 1600 m3/s at Ryde Bridge compared to a 12 hour
storm flood peak of 1695 m3/s. The difference between the
two results (6%) was considered marginal. Flood estimates at
selected
locations are presented in Table 6.5 and the
relevant values are shown on Exhibit 11.
26
TABLE 6.5
RSWM FLOOD ESTIMATES WITH SYNTHETIC STORMS - 1984
Calculated Peak Discharges (m3/s)

RSWM ----------------------------------Link
1%
1%
2%
5%
1%
No.
2 hr 6 hr 12 hr 2 hr 2 hr
(Ex. 13)
Location
Charles St. Weir 1.02

Duck River Confl. 1.05
Ryde Bridge
1.07
6.6
1050
1330
1600
990
1335
1625
980
1330
1695
915
1150
1480
780
980
1315
Previous Flood Estimates

6.6.1
RSWM, Rational and Wash Methods - 1976
In the analyses for the 1976 Report three methods were used
to derive flood estimates for the upper catchment without any
mitigation works.
These were the RSWM (Ref. 17), the
Rational Method (Ref. 3), and the Nash Unit Hydrograph
(Ref. 18).
Table 6.6 summarises the results derived at
Charles Street Weir.
TABLE 6.6
FLOOD ESTIMATES AT CHARLES STREET WEIR - 1976
Method
---- Peak Discharges ( m3/s) -----Q1%

Q2%
Q5%
2 hour
2 hour
2 hour
1.
RSWM
1030
950
820
2.
Rational Method
910
820
700
3.
Nash Unitgraph
750
630
540
In the 1976 Report it was decided to adopt the Rational

Method results as the most appropriate design values for a
drainage system incorporating formalised open channels.
The
RSWM was used to estimate flows for the proposed alternative
retarding basin scheme.
27
6.6.2
RSWM - 1980
For the 1980 Report only the RSWM was used to compute flood
flows and to investigate structural flood mitigation options
further. Flood estimates at Lennox Bridge are presented in
Table 6.7 for the catchment without mitigation works.
TABLE 6.7
FLOOD ESTIMATES AT LENNOX BRIDGE - 1980
Method
1.
RSWM
Q1%
2 hour
791
Peak Discharges (m3/s) -----Q2%

Q5%
2 hour
2 hour
653
543
The values given in Table 6.7 are lower than those of the
1976 Report because Muskingum - Cunge channel routing was used,
thus inducing significant attenuating effects in the reaches
of Toongabbie Creek below Johnston ' s Bridge.
6.7
Design Floods
A comparison of the flood estimates calculated by the
alternative methods considered, using the the 1%, 2% and 5%
probability synthetic storms, are presented in Table 6.8 (as
Methods A - G).
The flood estimates at Lennox Bridge and
Charles Street Weir are shown on the frequency curve on
Cxhibit 11
(predeveiopment)
flows
The 1% probability rural
were
estimated by the Synthetic Unit Hydrograph (Method C) and
Fitzgerald (Method E-1) to be 610 m3/s and 710 m3/s. The two
largest recorded floods in the last 100 years occurred in
1889 and 1914. The peak discharges for these floods were
estimated (Section 6.2.2) to have been 790 and 710 m3/s
respectively. Based on analysis of the available rainfall
data these floods were estimated to be in excess of the 2%
probability event.
From the above considerations, a 1% probability rural flood
of 710 m3/s was adopted; however, this estimate was not
required for subsequent analyses.
28
TABLE 6.f!
COMPARISON OF FLOOD ESTIMATES
Lennox
Charles Street
Duck River
Bridge
Weir
Confluence
Ryde Bridge
Q5%
Q2%
Q1%
Comments
Q5%
Q2%
Q1%
Q5%
Q2%
Q1%
Q5%
Q2%
Q1%
1025
1160
1330
1315
1480
1695
Consultant's Regional
Stormwater Model
RSWM (1984)
780
915
1050
Rational Method (1984)
(698)
(820)
(913)
730
895
1030
731
923
1081
Based on 1976 Report (11-2)

and extended downstream
Synthetic Unit
Hydrograph Method (1984)
(Rural only)
455
530
610
824
966
1108
Clark-Johnstone routing
Cordery-Webb 'C + 'K'
Rating Curve at Lennox
635
750
830
Flood Frequency assignment
does not separate effects of

urbanisation over 100 years
Bridge combined with

Rainfall Frequency
estimates (1984)
Fitzgerald's (1983)
1.
2.
Rural
Urban
1980 Report ( RSWM )
1976 Report
710
1020
543
653
791
1.
RSWM
2.
3.
Rational Method
Nash Unitgraph
Flood frequency correlation

Canberra, Brisbane
Consultant's model
Consultant's model
C = 0.5, Urban
Urban regression analysis
820
950
1030
698
540
820
630
913
750
Urban flows were estimated by the RSWM - 1984 (Method A),

Fitzgerald (Method E-2), the RSWM - 1980 (Method F), the RSWM
- 1976 (Method G-1), the Rational Method (Method G-2), and
the Nash Unit Hydrograph (Method G-3).
Method E-2 (Fitzgerald) was based on flow correlations from
catchments in Brisbane and Canberra. Differences between the
catchments were significant and the results were considered
useful for comparison purposes only.
Method G-2 (Rational) is well accepted for simple catchment
calculations though uncertainties in the estimation of the
runoff coefficient and time of concentration of the catchment
can result in a large range of possible estimates. This
method was considered useful for comparison purposes only.
Method G-3 ( Nash UHG) gave the lowest of all the urban
estimates and has been reported (Ref. 2) to underestimate
flows. The regression equations used in the method were
derived from catchments less than half the size of Parramatta
River catchment to Charles Street Weir.
Hence this method
was used for comparison purposes only.
Methods A, F and G-1 (RSWM 1976, 1980 and 1984) were the most
hydrologically representative of the methods considered.
Each RSWM analysis was different in that all rainfall and
catchment data was re-compiled in order to produce relatively
independent results. In 1976 the catchment analysed was that
A large range of flood
to the Charles Street Weir,
mitigation options was investigated. The analyses featured
conventional
routing along all reaches.
In 1980 the
catchment analysed was that to Lennox Bridge.
One specific
flood mitigation option consisting of three retarding basins
was investigated. The analysis featured modified routing in
the river reaches.
The RSWM - 1984 flood estimates at Charles Street Weir were
based on calibrated model parameter values. The RSWM-1984
consistent
with
flood estimates were generally
those
calculated by the other methods and were regarded as being
the most reliable and were accordingly adopted. The RSWM is
also capable of providing discharge hydrographs at all
the
other
locations required, which none of
methods
The adopted peak design flows
considered is able to do.
throughout the catchment for the 1%, 2% and 5% probability
are
presented
in Table 6.9 and are shown in
floods
Exhibit 18.
30
TABLE 6.9
ADOPTED PEAK DESIGN FLOWS
Location
Toongabbie Creek
Darling Mills Creek
Parramatta River at
Headwaters
Charles Street Weir
Vineyard Creek
Parramatta River at
Vineyard Creek
Subiaco Creek
Parramatta River at
Subiaco Creek
Duck River_
Parramatta River at
Duck River
Various Tributaries
Parramatta River at
Tributaries
Hasiams Creek
Powells Creek
Haslams, Powells Creeks
Confluence
Parramatta River at
Ryde Bridge
RSWM
Link
(1)
Critical
Storm
Duration
(hrs)
(2)
Peak Discharges (m3/s)

-----------------------Q1%
Q2%
Q5%
1.00
2.00
2
2
710
450
615
385
525
330
1.01
1.02
3.00
2
2
1.
1065
1050
120
925
915
110
790
780
90
1.03
4.00
2
1
1070
190
930
170
795
140
1.04
5.00
2
6 (3)
1170
345
1020
290
865
265
1.05
6.00
6
1
1330
255
1160
230
1025
195
1.06
7.00
8.00
12
2
2
1420
190
140
1220
165
120
1100
140
105
7.01
335
290
250
1.07
12
1695
1480
1315
Notes: (1) Refer to Exhibit IB

(2) Storms ranging from 0.5 to 18.0 hours were analysed
(3) Relatively large catchment with flat slopes (Appendix D)
6.8
Effect of Retarding Basin Proposals

Twenty-two retarding basins were proposed in the 1976 Report,
having a total flood storage of 6.4 million cubic metres, to
be constructed in the catchment upstream of Charles Street
Weir in order to lower flood discharges and levels downstream
of the basins. It was shown that at the outlet of the study
catchment, Charles Street Weir, flood discharges would be
reduced as follows:
for a 5% probability flood from 700 m3/s to 380 m3/s,
and
for a 1% probability flood from 910 m3/s to 600 m3/s.
The proposal was not formally adopted and subsequent detailed
investigations indicated that construction of many of the
31
recommended basins either did not have the support of the

local drainage authority directly responsible or could not
land
proceed because of further urbanisation or other
As a result the effect of the
acquisition problems.
remaining retarding basins was substantially less at Lennox
Bridge than earlier anticipated.
The 1980 report indicated a possible reduction in peak 1%
probability flows at Lennox Bridge of between 5% - 29%
depending on land availability and the alternative basin
schemes proposed.
Although some basin works are still proposed and others are
being designed by the Consultant or under construction, a
total of six (6) retardation basins in all, it is obvious
Recent
that the earlier proposals cannot, be achieved.
estimates (Ref 20) indicate a maximum peak flow reduction of;
18% for the 2 hour flood producing design storm at Lennon
Bridge. Additionally, the effectiveness of the basins on
reducing flood peaks downstream of Charles Street Weir in the
Lower Parramatta River is further diminished by the longer
duration flood producing storms that are critical between
Charles -Street Weir and Ryde Bridge, as indicated in
Therefore it is considered that the effect of
Table 6.9.
future possible basins on flood peaks and flood profiles in
the Lower Parramatta River is negligible.
32
7.0
ESTIMATED FLOOD PROFILES
7.1
Introduction
Two types of hydraulic models were used to estimate
the 1%,
2% and 5% probability flood profiles in the Lower Parramatta
River, Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek.
The
first model was the Consultant's conventional steady state
backwater model. The second model was the unsteady state
flow model, USTFLO. The Lower Parramatta River was analysed
by both steady and unsteady flow models, while Duck River,
Haslams Creek and Powells Creek were analysed by the steady
state model only.
For both models, the river geometry is represented
by means
The location of river survey crossof cross-sections.
section data used in the modelling is shown on Exhibit 3.
Frictional losses are represented by Manning's "n" which is a
measure of channel roughness.
The calibration of both hydraulic models requires reliable
records of historical flood levels and discharges. The
available information was limited and, in the circumstances,
it
was- necessary to make some unverified assumptions.
Comparison against historical flood data was undertaken where
possible.
7.2
Steady State Flow Model

The most common method of flood flow profile estimation
assumes a steady state condition where neither the inflow to
the study reach nor the tailwater at the downstream end
varies significantly with time. The flow may be non-uniform,
that is, the flow may vary from one cross-section to another.
These assumptions are usually acceptable where discharge
varies slowly with time and the downstream water level is
reasonably constant.
The steady state model used in this study is referred to
herein as FLOWBD.
7.3
Unsteady State Flow Model

The computer program USTFLO, described in Appendix E.1, was
used to model the Lower Parramatta River under unsteady flow
conditions.
The application of USTFLO to
the
Lower
Parramatta River was considered necessary as the hydraulic
conditions in the river channel are subject to variations in
flow and tide level and to river storage effects.
The application of the unsteady flow program to Duck River,
Haslams Creek and Powells Creek was not justified as storage
effects were not considered significant and discharge and
calibration data for these tributaries was deficient. Steady
satisfactory
state modelling was considered to produce
results.
33
7.4
Tidal Influences
7.4.1
Storm Tides
From the tidal data summarised in Section 4.5 it was evident

that the governing flood levels in the downstream reaches of
the Parramatta River and its tributaries may be produced by a
storm tide.
Hence the levels of storm tides, which include
storm surge effects, were included in this study.
The probability of a coincidental peak storm tide and a 1%
probability flood peak was considered remote. The joint
probability of such an event has not been considered as part
of this study but it would be less than 1%.
The MSB provided a frequency curve for high tides at Fort
Denison for .,the 30 year period from 1916 to 1945. These
recorded tides would include the effects of storm surge, and
these
results would also be applicable for the Lower
Parramatta River. This curve is shown on Exhibit 19(a) and
was extrapolated by the Consultant. A peak storm tide level
of RL 1.50 m (AHD) was adopted for this study.
7.4.2
Downstream Boundary Condition
requires
the
Both steady and unsteady flow modelling
definition of downstream boundary (tidal) conditions. The
critical flood situations for flow analyses were assumed to
coincide with Mean High Water Springs (MHWS). The starting
level at Ryde Bridge for the steady flow analysis was taken
as RL +0.66 m (AHD), which is approximately Mean High Water
Springs.
boundary
downstream
For the unsteady flow analysis a
condition equal to the tide level variation was adopted. A
sinusoidal curve was fitted to a high spring tide with an
amplitude of 0.66 m.
The adopted "design" tide cycle is
shown on Exhibit 19(b), together with observations made by
the PWD of the tidal variation in the Parramatta River at
four locations on 2 February 1983. The location of the tide
gauges is shown on Exhibit 19(c).
The travel time of the tide from Ryde Bridge to Charles
Street Weir was of interest in the unsteady flow modelling as
it affected the timing assumed for the flood hydrograph in
relation to the tidal fluctuation at the downstream boundary.
An approximate estimate of the travel time of the tidal wave
was given by the shallow water wave celerity formula as
approximately 0.5 hour.
Observations of travel times by the MSB indicate an elapsed
time of 15 minutes from high tide at Fort Denison to high
tide at the head of Duck River. The recent observations by
the PWD, shown on Exhibit 19(b), indicated that differences
in travel time between the three upstream gauges appear to be
very small.
34
The difference in travel times assessed by the above methods

is small. The estimate of 0.5 hr was considered satisfactory
for assessing the relative timing of flood hydrographs and
peak tides.
7.5

Both steady state (FLOWBD) and unsteady state. (USTFLO)
hydraulic models were established for the Lower Parramatta
River.
model
Whilst
the
unsteady
state
is
more
representative of actual physical river conditions, the
steady state model was established to assess the potential
difference in results between the models and determine the
applicability of the steady state model for future design
runs.
The steady state model, being simpler in application, was
also used for initial sensitivity testing with respect to
flow and roughness coefficient Manning's "n".
7.5.1
Testing of Hydraulic Models
Generall.y the calibration of the hydraulic models is achieved

by fitting calculated flood profiles to observed flood
profiles. The process requires a series cf flood levels and
discharges along the river reach or, for unsteady flow
modelling, a flood hydrograph.
Data suitable for use in
calibrating the models for the Lower Parramatta River was
limited and hence the fitting process required several
assessments.
Limited calibration was achieved by adjustment
of parameters such as Manning's "n" and bridge losses.
The relevant historical flood levels as
presented
in
Appendix C . were
plotted
on Exhibit 20 for the Lower
Parramatta River downstream of Charles Street Weir, although
this data is subject to uncertainties in both level and time
of observation. The flood profiles derived in the 1980
Report for the reach upstream of Charles Street Weir to the
Marsden Street Weir are also presented. While these profiles
were the result of physical hydraulic model studies it should
be noted that flood levels downstream of Lennox Bridge were
determined in part by a simple steady state backwater
analysis along the Parramatta River starting at the Duck
River.
Because of the constriction at Lennox Bridge, levels
downstream of the bridge were relatively unimportant and were
not refined as part of the 1980 report (Ref 6).
A number of trial analyses were performed using the steady
state and unsteady state models, with a range of flows and
Manning's "n" tested. Details of the testing procedure and
the results are presented in Appendix E.2 and shown on
Exhibit 20.
35
On the basis of these trial flood profiles, the available

historical flood levels and the Consultant's experience, it
was concluded that:
(a)
of the
A value of Mannings "n" in the lower reaches
Parramatta River below Duck River of 0.025 and above the
Duck River of 0.035 should be adopted for the hydraulic
model.
(b)
The 1980 Report flood profiles below Lennox Bridge are

probably high but this finding does not affect estimated
levels in the 1980 Report upstream of Lennox Bridge.
(c)
The results from the unsteady state analyses were lower

than those from steady state analyses. This was due to
fundamental differences in the theoretical basis of the
The difference in computed flood levels
two methods.
was greatest in the lower reaches of the river where
effects in the drowned river valley were
storage
greatest. At Charles Street Weir the two methods gave
similar results. It was concluded that the USTFLO model
represented flow conditions in the lower reaches of the
Lower Parramatta River more appropriately than the
FLDWBD model and hence the USTFLO model was adopted for
modelling the Lower Parramatta River.
(d)
The choice of starting tide level up to RL 0.66 m (AHD)

did not have a significant effect on the flood profiles
above the Duck River confluence.
7.5.2
Design Flood Profiles - Lower Parramatta River
The Lower Parramatta River was modelled by the unsteady state

model USTFLO for the 1%, 2% and 5% probability floods
calculated by the RSWM-1984. Adopted peak design flows are
presented in Table 6.9. The modelling was undertaken using a
critical storm duration of 2 hours as determined from the
Boundary
Appendix E-2,(b).
testing,
model
hydraulic
conditions were a semi-diurnal tide cycle at Ryde Bridge with
amplitude 0.66 m about MSL and inflow hydrographs from all
streams from Charles Street Weir to Ryde Bridge.
In the downstream sections of the river, tide induced
flooding was found to be the critical situation. For this
reason, a storm tide level of 1.5 m (AHD), as shown on
was adopted as the critical level in the
Exhibit 19,
downstream sections of the river.
The flood profiles for the tidal reach of Parramatta River
between Charles Street Weir and Ryde Bridge are shown on
Exhibits 21-1 and 21-2 and a plan showing the design flood
levels is given on Exhibit 23.
The flood profiles show that tidal effects are dominant
between Ryde Bridge and Silverwater Bridge. Therefore the
choice of Ryde Bridge as the downstream limit of the study
was justified.
36
7.6
Duck River
The profiles for the reach of Duck River from its confluence
with Parramatta River up to the Mona Street Bridge were
This
estimated using the steady state program FLOWBD.
approach was adopted because, unlike the Lower Parramatta
River, the effect of channel storage was relatively small.
In addition, the steady flow analysis is much simpler to
apply and it is questionable whether the use of the more
complex
USTFLO program is justifiable where historical
discharge and flood level data is lacking.
7.6.1
Modelling Procedure
Due to the range of possible flow and tailwater conditions a

number of design combinations were modelled to identify the
flow conditions which would produce peak flood levels along
the river. The following combinations were investigated:
(a)
Steady inflow (1%, 2% and 5% peak discharges) from the

River catchment with the tide level at the
Duck
Parramatta River confluence at MHWS.
(b)

catchment with water levels at the Parramatta River
confluence set at the equivalent (1%, 2% and 5%)
probability flood levels.
(c)
Zero inflow in Duck River with a peak storm tide in the

Parramatta River.
The 1%, 2% and 5% probability flood peaks, estimated for the

Duck River at its confluence with the Parramatta River, were
For points upstream
of
the
as given in Table 6.9.
discharges
were
reduced
by
a
factor
confluence, the design
equal to the catchment area ratio raised to the power 0.7.
A Manning's "n" value of 0.035 was adopted based on the
Consultant's previous experience and field inspections.
Insufficient flood level data and no discharge data was
available to allow verification or calibration of model
parameters. However, model results were compared against the
limited historical flood levels as described in Section 7.6.2
below.
7.6.2
Design Flood Profiles
The adopted flood profiles are shown on Exhibit 22(a) and a

plan showing the design flood levels is given in Exhibit 23.
It should be noted that upstream of Chainage 1040 on Duck
using
the three different
calculated
profiles
River
Downstream
downstream boundary conditions tend to converge.
of this chainage the profile using the higher Parramatta
River downstream boundary condition was adopted as the most
appropriate profile.
37
The profiles calculated made provision for head losses at the

railway and Parramatta Road bridges of 0.4 m and 0.5 m
respectively. The profiles were compared with three flood
levels recorded in the study area for the flood of 15th April
1969. The pluviograph at Silverwater indicated that the
storm on this date had a duration of 2 to 3 hours and a
probability of exceedance of 1% to 5%. Two of the three
observed flood levels were in reasonable agreement with the
estimated flood profile for a 5% probability flood. The most
downstream flood level appeared to be low but this may have
been the result of the flood occurring at the time of low
tide.
In this case, while the flood was known to be
extremely rare in the Duck Creek catchment where the intense
thunderstorm was localised, downstream along the Duck River
its probability of exceedance would have been much higher.
Given the limited historical data for hydraulic
model
it
is considered that the above results
calibration,
represent satisfactory design 1%, 2% and 5% probability flood
profiles.
7.7

Flood profiles for Haslams Creek and Powells Creek upstream
to the Western Freeway and Pomeroy Street respectively were
calculated using the steady state model FLOWBD. Use of the
model was based on the same reasons as outlined for Duck
River in Section 7.6.
7.7.1
Modelling Procedure
The following conditions were modelled for the creeks:

Haslams Creek
(a)

tributary with the tide level at the Parramatta River
confluence at MHWS.
(b)
Zero inflow in the tributary with a peak storm tide in

the Parramatta River.
Powells Creek
(a)

tributary with the tide level at the Parramatta River
confluence at MHWS.
(b)
Zero inflow in the tributary with a peak storm tide in

the Parramatta River.
The adopted 1%, 2% and 5% probability flood peaks

given in Table 6.9.
were
as
Manning 's "n" value of 0.035 was adopted based on field

inspections.
38
7.7.2
Design Flood Profiles
The design flood profiles are shown on Exhibits 22(b) and

22(c) for Haslams and Powells Creeks respectively. A plan of
design flood levels is shown on Exhibit 23.
No data was available for the calibration of the model,
however during the course of the study an independent report
(Ref. 9) on flooding along Haslams Creek was prepared by Rowe
& Ennis (1983) for Auburn Municipal Council. The 1%, 2% and
5% probability flood peak discharges estimated were 115 m3/s,
155 m3/s and 220 m3/s respectively. The corresponding values
estimated by the RSWM-1984 in this study were 140 m3/s,
Although the two sets of flood
165 m3/s and 190 m3/s.
estimates differed, a comparison of the 1% probability flood
Profile from Reference 9 and the corresponding estimate made
with program FLOWED as shown on Exhibit 22(b) does not
indicate a significant difference in flood levels along the
creek. The FLOWBD profile utilises five surveyed channel
cross-sections at the locations shown on Exhibit 3 and is
thus considered a more representative result than the result
in Reference 9 which is based on aerial and ground survey at
a scale of 1:1000.
From the above considerations it appears that the flood
profiles contained in Reference 9 support the flood profiles
Accordingly, it is recommneded
computed for this report.
that the profiles shown on Exhibits 22(b) and 22(c) be
adopted as the appropriate design 1%, 2% and 5% probability
flood profiles. These profiles should, however, be reviewed
when further flood observations become available.
7.8
Flow Distribution
The average flow velocity through the main channel , left and
right overbanks for the 1%, 2% and 5% design floods are
illustrated on plan sheets of the study area (Exhibits 24 to
These exhibits also indicate the percentage of the
26).
total flow which passes through the channel and overbank
The exhibits show flow velocity values averaged
areas.
across the individual sections of the main channel and
overbank areas as predicted by the adopted water surface
profile model. Localised flow velocities at a particular
site may vary from the average velocity and would be
influenced by factors such as obstructions, constrictions and
proximity to the main river path.
39
8.0
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the State Government and was
undertaken by Willing and Partners , Consulting Engineers for
the Public Works Department.
In compiling this report, Willing & Partners has been
assisted by advice and information from the Public Works
Department (PWD), Water Resources Commission (WRC), local
Councils, the Maritime Services Board (MSB), the State Rail
and
Authority (SRA), the Metropolitan Water,
Sewerage
Drainage Board (MWS&DB), and various other public authorities
and local residents.
40
9.0
REFERENCES
1.
NSW STATE GOVERNMENT (1985) - "Floodplain Development

Manual - Draft", April.
2.
SNOWY MOUNTAINS ENGINEERING CORPORATION ET AL (1976) "Parramatta River Basin Drainage Study". Report
prepared for Sydney Western Regional Organisation of
Local Authorities, September.
3.
INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS , AUSTRALIA (1977) " Australian Rainfall and Runoff".
4.
SNOWY MOUNTAINS ENGINEERING CORPORATION (1975) - "A

Flood and Water Quality Study of the Non-Tidal Section
of the Parramatta River Catchment - Stage I Initial
Study". Report prepared for Department of Urban and
Regional Development, May.
5.
NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT (1978) - "Parramatta River

Basin Flood Mitigation", Report by an inter-department
committee of officers.
6.
SNOWY MOUNTAINS ENGINEERING CORPORATION - WILLING &

- PARTNERS PTY. LTD. ( 1980 ) - " Parramatta River Flood
Mitigation Investigation ". Report prepared for Water
Resources Commission , October.
7.
SNOWY MOUNTAINS ENGINEERING CORPORATION - WILLING &

PARTNERS PTY. LTD. ( 1981) - "Toongabbie Creek Retarding
Basin 3 ". Report prepared for Water Resources
Commission , April.
8.
WILLING & PARTNERS PTY. LTD. (1980) - "Subiaco Creek Ponds Creek Drainage Study ". Report prepared for
Parramatta City Council , October.
9.
E.S. ROWE & ENNIS , CONSULTING ENGINEERS ( 1983) "Haslams Creek Drainage Study - Parramatta Road to
Homebush Bay", Report prepared for Auburn Municipal
Council, June.
10.
WILLING & PARTNERS PTY. LTD. (1983 ) - " Pendle Hill

Creek Trunk Drainage Study". Report prepared for
Holroyd Municipal Council, March.
11.
WILLING & PARTNERS PTY. LTD. ( 1983) - "Greystanes Creek

Trunk Drainage Study - Draft Report". Prepared for
Holroyd Municipal Council and Blacktown City Council,
June.
12.
HENDERSON, F.M. (1966) - "Open Channel Flow",

MacMillan.
13.
PILGRIM, D.H. & McDERMOTT, G.E. (1982) - "Design Floods

for Small Rural Catchments in Eastern New South Wales",
Institution of Engineers, Australia, Civil Eng. Trans.
41
14.
FITZGERALD, B.J. (1975) - "A Key Station Approach to

Rural and Urban Flood Frequencies in the ACT",
Institution of Engineers, Australia, Hydrology
Symposium.
15.
FITZGERALD, B.J. (1983) - "Parramatta River at Lennox

Bridge: An Independent Estimate of the 100 Year Return
Period Flood", Report prepared for Willing & Partners
Pty. Ltd.
16.
CORDERY, I. & WEBB, S.N. (1974) - "Flood Estimation in

Eastern New South Wales - a Design Method", Institution
of Engineers, Australia, Civil Engg. Trans. Vol CE 16,
No 1.
17.
GOYEN, A.G. & AITKEN, AS. (1976) - "A Regional

Stormwater Drainage Model", Institution of Engineers,
Australia, Hydrology Symposium, Sydney.
18.
RAO, A.R., DELLEUR, J.W. & SARMA, B.S.P. (1972) "Conceptual Hydrologic Models for Urbanising Basins",
Proceedings American Society of Civil Engineers,
Hydraulic Division, Vol. 98,HY7.
19. - U.S. CORPS OF ENGINEERS (1977) - "Gradually Varied

Unsteady Flow Profiles", Hydrologic Engineering Centre,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, August.
20.
WILLING & PARTNERS PTY LTD ( 1985 ) - " Parramatta River

Basin Discharge Estimates ", prepared for the Water
Resources Commission of NSW, July.
42
APPENDIX A
PLANS AND SURVEY DATA
A.1
LIST OF PLANS AND DRAWINGS
Date
Drg. No.
1977
1974
1974
1974
1975
1977
1977
1978
1974
1979
1975
1977
1978
1979
1980
00052-1,4,8
U9152-1,2,3,4,6
9152-v,vii,viii,ix
U9160-1,2,3,4
U9160-5,6,8,9
U9160-7
U0045-3
00060-1,2,3,4,7
U8252-3
00052-5,6
09152
00052-8
00052-7,9
00052-6,5
U0052-4
N51
Aug 1982
6895 -C2,C4,C10
circa 1978 1983
1983
1949
1946
Description
Scale
Parramatta - CMA Orthophotomap

1:4000
11
1:4000
Merrylands - CMA
It
1:4000
Merrylands - CMA
II
1:4000
Blacktown - CMA
II
1: 4000
Blacktown - CMA
1:4000
Blacktown - CMA
II
1:4000
Regents Park - CMA
II
1:4000
- CMA
Epping
1:4000
Horsley Park - CMA
1:4000
Parramatta - Cadastral"
it
1:2000
Merrylands - CMA
1:4000
Parramatta - Cadastral
1:4000
1:4000
1:4000
1:48,1:16
Clyde - Strengthening of
1:12
Duck River Bridge
NSWR Duck R. Bridge, Clyde
1:32
Renewal of Bearings
NSWR Duck R. Bridge, Clyde
Widening for 6 lines for
proposed future
1:96
quadruplication
Silverwater - Sterling Park
Site Reclamation for Indust.
BP Aust Nominees P/L - Developm.
1:500,1:50
at Vore St, Silverwater
Untitled - Planning Scheme, Ryde
1:500,1:100
Duck River Sections, PWD
1:500,1;100
Powells Creek Section, PWD
1:500,1:1000
1:500,1:100
Preliminary Only, PWD
Vineyard Ck Section, PWD
Vineyard Ck, Duck R & Ck
Haslams Ck, Powells Ck and
1:2000,1:500
Creek Drain, PWD
Plan - Hydrographic Survey
2ft:li n
Duck River, PWD
Haslams Ck Improvements,
Extension to Main Channel,
Little St to Derby St, Plan
and Section, PWD
Date
Description
Drg. No .
Jul 1972
NC71/275/C/1
Jul 1972
NC72/09/D/2
Jul 1972
NC72/218/B/1
1965
SI 56-5
Scale
Newington Naval Armaments Depot Drainage Investigs & Land

Filling Operations, PWD
300ft:lin
Newington Naval Armaments Depot Tipping Rights Area No. 3, PWD 300ft:1in
Newington Naval Armaments Depot Stormwater Drainage into
Parramatta River, PWD
300ft:lin
Newington Magazine - Detail
Survey ASO-NSW
Sydney - Geological
1:250,000
A-2
A.2:
LIST OF BENCHMARKS
B.M. No.
1 (W.0.42183)
2
EL MO
LOCATION
1.861
Nr. Bridge Sth, Elizabeth St.

McArthur St.
10.481
DESCRIPTION
Bolt in coping.
Brass stud, top wall
3 (W.0.41235)
2.928
Drain outlet Sth. Rangihou Cres.
4.680
Culvert, Morton St.
4.674
B.M. on culvert
11
11
13.776
Bolt in kerb
6.552
Lot 30 (No..2) Broughton St.

it t
t'
Lot 16 ( No. 30)
17.400
NW corner Thomas/Penberton St.
15.169
Lot 4/5 (No. 114/116) Thomas St.
10
15.751
Lot 9 (No. 126) Thomas St.
11
16:546
Lot 16/17 (No. 140/142) Thomas St.
12
16.464
13
"
14 W.0 . 36069
16.562
4.568
B.M. on headwall
11
Lot 17 (No. 142) Thomas St.

?Lot 17 (No. 142) James Rouse Dr. ?
Culvert, West bank Vineyard Ck.
(BM 2215) Bolt top of WW
15
3.443
East of Alan St (culvert)
Bolt in headwall
16
6.348
Lot 206 Muriel Avenue
Bolt in kerb
"
6.915
Lot 223/224 Mary Parade
Bolt in kerb
5.522
Lot 273/274 Bridge Street
B.M. in kerb
19 (W.0.36337)
2.026
Humes Factory, 24-30 South St.
Bolt in step
20
4:056
Internat.. Combustion, 38-46 Sth.St.
Bolt inSWD pit
17
18
"
21
1.248
22
3.477
Bolt on slipway
Lane off W .- end Antoine St.
Bolt in abutment wall
23
6.174
Opp. 588/ 589 Antoine St.
Bolt in PMG Box
24
7.034
619 John Street
Bolt on capstone
25
1.910
South side John St.
Bolt in SWC headwall
26 (W.0 .43459)
5.747
544 John St.
Bolt in SWC
27
0.837
South end 537 John St.
B.M. on Rock
28
29 (W.0 .43459)
7.997
6.537
NE/Nowill/John St.
527 John St. (opp. Sylvia St.)
Bolt in ELP
Bolt in path
30
4.927
NW/Primrose/John
Bolt in kerb
31
5.385
NW/Fallon/John
BM on kerb
32
1.706
NE corner Naval Store
Bolt in conc. base
2.836
Naval Store Area
BM on base of septic tank
33
"
"
34
35 (W.0 .45934)
2.419
18.525
1,
11
SW/Murdock/ Boronia
BM on SWC
Bolt in PMG box
36
18.506
NE/Trumper/Boronia
Bolt in conc. path
37
10.929
Opp. 15/17 Gregory St.
Bolt in coping
38
4.839
Drainage Reserve 29 Trumper St.
Bolt in rack
39
8.722
SW/Saunders/Trumper
Bolt in kerb
40
10.167
NE/Atkins/Saunders
Bolt in kerb
41
5.180
S. end Hughes Ave.
Bolt in kerb
2.352
Transmission easement S. Hope St.
Bolt in base of Trans.Twr.
43 (W.C.41619)
3.784
N.cnr Waratah/Wharf
BM on concrete culvert
44
"
7.046
S. corner Andrew/Wharf
BM on kerb
45
"
9.944
42
"
Lot 83 Lancaster Ave
BM on dwarf wall
46 (W.0.87342)
10.319
No. 24 (Lot 41) Meadow Crecent
BM on rock
47
22.200
No. 6 Bank St.
BM cut on dwarf wall
Lot 25 Rthesay Avenue
8M on rock
"
48 (5.0.50292)
3.144
Property boundary W. of Margaret St. Bolt in conc . base of post

Bolt in kerb
49 (W.0.36387)
5.162
50
2.440
General store , Mary St. West
51
3.422
Moulding Power Plant
Bolt in kerb
2.526
Bk Control Room
Bolt in path
53 (5.0.44660)
3.723
Off Concord Rd, opp. King St.
BM on kerb
54
3.781
Lot 4 King Street
BM on AP
1.352
Lot 140 Victoria Ave.
BM on kerb
1.236
West side SWC (Haslans Ck)

Between P'matta Rd & Trans. lines
BM on SWC coping
7.613
Cnr. Day/Adderley St
Bolt in kerb
5.022
Clyde St/Silverwater
Bolt in kerb
6.165
Clyde/Sil verwater
Bolt in kerb
6.147
Clyde/Picken
Bolt in pole
6.098
Picken/Bl axland
Bolt in kerb
7.329
Silver/Blaxl and
Bolt in kerb
Bolt in kerb
Bolt in coc. bridge
52
"
55
"
56 (W.0.36777)
6.622
Sil verwater/Blaxland
64 (W.0.36378)
4.111
Parramatta Rd, East Duck River
65
7.192
East Duck River
Spike in power pole
5.055
Harbord/Martha
Bolt in kerb
4.430
D'Arcy St. (west side)
Bolt in conc. driveway
4.500
Martha/Deniehy
Spike in ELP
3.030
Lot 50/51 Tennyson
Bolt in kerb
3.955
Lot 8/9 Deniehy
Bolt in kerb
63
70
"
"
"
71
2.785
Deniehy/Tennyson
Bolt in kerb
72 (W.0.36022)
5.321
North Railway/James Ruse
BM.on MH cover
Bolt in culvert
73
"
4.900
South Main Roads depot, Unwin St.
74
"
4.598
Non-metallic Co., Shirley St.
BM on kerb
75 (W.0.41086)
5.945
North Grand Ave, opp. Wunderlich
Bolt in conc.
76 (W.0 . 52788)
4.126
Sth Grand Ave, east of Arthur St.
GBM 8084
Bolt on bridge h/w
APPENDIX B
DAILY RAINFALLS IN EXCESS OF 100 mm
APPENDIX B
DAILY RAINFALLS IN EXCESS OF 100 mm
(a)
STATION: 066046 - PARRAMATTA (1832-1838, 1851-1861,

1870-1876, 1909-1960)
Date
25.08.1834
04.09.1859
23.07.1860
17.11.1860
19.07.1873
27.04.1874
13.12.1910
13.01.1911
24.03.1914
10.11.1917
12.01.1918
11.05.1925
25.03.1926
16.04.1927
(h)
Rainfall
Depth mm
*
o
*
0
STATION:
Date
28.07.1908
13.12.1910
13.01.1911
09.03.1913
15.05.1913
24.03.1914
12.01.1918
26.07.1922
19.04.1927
07.07.1931
132.1
106.7
118.6
128.0
114.3
107.7
111.3
134.6
222.8
112.3
160.3
125.5
106.7
119.4
*
0
0
0
19.04.1927
14.10.1929
07.07.1931
28.03.1942
20.05.1943
16.04.1946
16.06.1950
07.05.1953
08.05.1953
27.11.1955
10.02.1956
11.02.1956
10.03.1958
11.03.1958
o
0
*
*
0
*
0
*
105.9
100.3
141.2
139.2
105.9
153.4
112.8
101.6
100.6
116.3
180.6
105.4
129.3
108.0
066055 - LIDCOMBE GOLF CLUB ( 1905-1969)
Rainfall
Depth mm
*
*
0
Rainfall
Depth mm
Date
108.0
110.5
133.4
156.0
103.9
122.7
104.1
100.1
105.4
107.4
Date
16.04.1946
10.01.1949
27.07.1952
10.02.1956
11.02.1956
10.03.1958
07.03.1964
17.04.1969
14.11.1969
Rainfall
Depth mm
0
*
0
*
0
*
*
*
122.2
101.6
121.9
160.0
110.0
124.5
101.6
144.8
122.5
(c)
STATION:
Rainfall
Depth mm
Date
08.02.1895
06.05.1898
05.07.1900
31.03.1900
09.07.1904
28.07.1908
19.07.1910
13.01.1911
21.03.1914
12.01.1918
25.03.1926
16.04.1927
19.04.19L7
07.07.1931
16.04.1946
10.01.1949
18.01.1951
15.06.1952
26.07.1952
Notes:
066057 - RYDE PUMPING STATION (1893-1978)
*
o
o
*
*
o
o
0
*
110.5
149.9
102.4
133.4
127.0
125.7
133.4
135.6
116.8
140.2
105.2
114.3
101.6
177.8
132.1
114.8
105.4
101.6
123.2
Rainfall
Depth mm
Date
02.05.1953
08.05.1953
22.02.1954
01.05.1955
27.11.1955
10.02.1956
10.03.1958
11.03.1958
19.11.1961
13.05.1962
07.03.1964
10.06.1964
12.06.1964
17.04.1969
14.11.1969
02.09.1970
09.12.1970
17.10.1972
*
o
0
*
*
*
*
* shows records common to two stations

o shows records common to all stations
122.2
110.2
136.1
103.6
148.8
188.5
104.1
128.3
204.7
151.1
121.9
115.8
110.7
172.7
124,5
121.9
108.0
120.1
APPENDIX C
FLOOD INFORMATION
C.1:
LIST OF ORGANISATIONS APPROACHED FOR HISTORICAL

FLOOD LEVEL INFORMATION
1.
Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board.
2.
Maritime Services Board.
3.
State Rail Authority
4.
Department of Main Roads.
5.
Auburn Municipal Council.
6.
Ryde Municipal Council.
7.
Concord Municipal Council.
8..
Parramatta City Council.
9.
Mitchell Library.
10.
Ryde Historical Society.
11.
Commonwealth Department of Defence.
12.
Water Resources Commission.
13.
State Library of NSW.
14.
Parramatta Library.
15.
Ermington Library.
16.
Parramatta Historical Society.
17.
Cumberland Press Library.
18.
The Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser.
19.
The Sydney Morning Herald.
20.
The Advertiser.
21.
The Auburn Review.
22.
The Auburn and District News.
23.
The Cumberland Argus.
24.
The Parramatta and Hills News.
C.2:
COUNCIL INTERVIEWS
C.2.1
Auburn Municipal Council
The Auburn Municipal Council is bordered by Duck River to the west,

Parramatta River to the north and Powells Creek to the east, and
includes Haslams Creek, a major drainage channel discharging into
However, there are no existing records referring to
Homebush Bay.
flooding within the municipality, other than minor local floods
attributable to blocked drains, etc.
C.2.2
Concord Municipal Council
Information received from Council included a plan showing the major

area of flooding within the municipality. This area is around Massey
Park, to the west of Exile Bay, approximately 4 km downstream of the
Ryde Road Bridge, and well outside the area for which flood profiles
are required. The last major floods experienced in this locality
occurred on 15-16th April, 1969 and 13-14th November, 1969 when 613
points (155.7 mm) and 604 points (153.4 mm) of rainfall were
recorded, respectively.
To quote Council's letter: "Other minor
areas of flooding do exist within the municipality; however, records
are not readily available of the areas involved, nor of the flood
levels."
C.2.3
Parramatta City Council
Parramatta City Council was the only local government authority which
could
supply
detailed records of flood heights.
There are
twenty-nine (29) flood levels at twenty locations. The levels were
and
1974 although some are undated.
recorded
between
1967
Information received from Council is included in Appendix B-2.
The
flood levels were generally recorded in feet to Standard Datum, and
The levels are listed in
have been converted to metres (AHD).
Appendix C-1 and the locations are shown on Fig. 8.
An attempt was made to obtain information at various bridges and
bridge sites mentioned in newspaper reports, such as the Broken Back
Bridge and the low level bridge at O'Connell Street. Most of these
bridges which had been inundated in the past have been either rebuilt
or replaced, and no means of determining the floodlevels were found
except at Lennox Bridge (Levels 6,8,13,14,31,32) and the Smith Street
footbridge (Levels 5,15). These latter two bridges are still in
existence.
C.2.4
Ryde Municipal Council
The northern bank of the Parramatta River between Wharf Road and the
Ryde Road Bridge is administered by the Ryde Municipal Council. It
is almost all Public Reserve and therefore any occasional flooding
which may have occurred is not of concern. Council's survey section
indicated that Meadowbank Park had at times been flooded due to
backing-up of inadequate stormwater drains, but since improvements
were made it has been flood free.
C.3:
FLOOD REPORTS
C.3.1
Early (pre-1889) Flood Reports
The Sydney Morning Herald, published as the Sydney Herald from 1831
until 1842 and then under its present name, provided the bulk of the
information. The Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser, from 1803 to
1842, provided some interesting but not very useful insights into
early flooding problems. A total of seven local newspapers and
periodicals were consulted and others which have ceased publication
have been perused to no avail.
A book entitled "Floods in the
Suburbs and Country" did not contain useful information.
Early reports of flooding in Parramatta, while vivid, offered little
factual information as to the height of the floods. The first bridge
was washed away in 1795. The second bridge was damaged in 1826 and
the "Volunteer" bridge on the west side of what is now Cumberland
Oval was washed away in the flood of June 1864. Other heavy storms
were recorded in 1806 and 1809 with no mention of flooding or flood
damage.
C.3.2
May 1889 Flood
In May 1889 extensive reports were made of "phenomenal" rainfall,

with 0.44 inches (11.2 mm) being recorded in six minutes, but to
quote the Sydney Morning Herald of Monday,
27th
May
1889:
"Fortunately, not a great deal of damage has been done by floods,
despite the heavy fall. Marrickville has, perhaps. ..... suffered
more, though there has been there greater inconvenience than damage."
The following day the Sydney Morning Herald carried these reports:
"Duck Creek has swollen to the width of a quarter of a
mile" (note - in these early reports there is some
confusion between Duck Creek and Duck River.).
"From Friday morning until last night .... nearly 17 inches
(430 mm) had fallen, which is almost as much as... the
whole of last year."
"The low lying lands in the suburbs have been submerged and
considerable damage has been done, particularly in the
neighbourhood of Marrickville, Croydon and Parramatta."
"The Duck River is flooded to that extent that it may
fairly be described as a restless sea of water. The iron
bridge by which the trains cross it, and the line for some
distance, are submerged.."
"The waters, which were flowing very fast, appeared to have
risen 6-8 feet."
"At noon on Monday the river [Parramatta River] commenced
It nearly reached the top of the
to rise perceptibly.
Lennox Bridge Arch at 2.00 pm."
The top of the underside of Lennox Bridge arch is given as RL 7.29 in
the 1980 Report (Ref. 6) and hence the estimated flood level at the
upstream face of the bridge was assumed to be RL 7.2. It was later
found (Ref. 6) that this flood level is affected by substantial
drawdown effects. Having regard to these drawdown effects the actual
flood level at the bridge (i.e. the flood level just upstream of the
drawdown) was estimated to be RL 7.2 + 0.7 = RL 7.9 (Flood level
no. 1 in Appendix C-1).
C-3
C.3.3
March 1914 Flood
A major storm was recorded in March 1914. On Monday 23rd March 1914,
the Sydney Morning Herald had stories of damage to property in
Parramatta:
.in some areas as much as 3 feet of water invaded the
houses." The next day it was reported that "at four thirty
o'clock it (the Parramatta River) had reached within a
couple of feet of the arch of the Lennox Bridge."
This indicates a flood level of RL 6.7 at the upstream face of the
bridge.
Drawdown effects were estimated to be 0.6 m and hence the
actual flood level at the bridge was taken to be RL 6.7 + 0.6 = RL
7.3 and this is given as level No. 2 in Appendix C-5.
The Cumberland Argus of Wednesday 25th March 1914 provided extensive
reports about the flooding, although most reports were of areas
outside the study area:
"...depth over the roadway of 3 or 4 feet at Pennant
Street" (flowing towards the Rose and Crown Hotel, between
Ross and Pennant Streets, Parramatta North).
"Left hand side of tramway, close to the bridge.. .eight
feet of water over bridge" - this possibly refers to Broken
Back Bridge.
Blaxcell Street Bridge (Granville) where the Duck
River overflowed its banks and submerged that structure,
the water reaching the first railing on the bridge."
This was reported to be the highest level for thirty years.
It was
also reported that the undersized culvert under the railway line was
responsible. Despite inquiries it was not possible to establish the
location of the "Broken Back" bridge. The Blaxcell Street bridge is
on Duck Creek, not Duck River, and is upstream of the tidal limit and
well outside the study area.
"The water from Duck Creek (River?) found its way into
Brunton's Flour Mill, and stretched over into the Clyde
Engineering Works."
"During Monday afternoon the Parramatta River, near Lennox
Bridge, on both sides was a great sight .. . the water on
the Park side of the dam and the tidal portion of the river
were level. There was no waterfall until after the flood
had receded,"
The Argus also referred to the "disastrous storm of 12 months or so
Flooding was again attributed to inadequate
ago" at Lidcombe.
culverts at the railway embankment. It was mentioned that "Auburn
and was "practically immune."
escapes"
flooding
No further
references were located.
C.3.4
July 1931 Storm
A major storm found reported was on the 7th July 1931, when a cyclone
There were no reports of
struck Sydney, causing great damage.
flooding at or near Parramatta.
C.3.5
September 1943 Flood
A storm on the morning of 29th September, 1943 caused extensive

flooding
of Haslams Creek and Powells Creek on the upstream
(southern) side of the railway, outside the study area.
"Fences were washed away, furniture, floor coverings and
personal effects were damaged by flood waters and in some
cases stock in business premises was either washed away or
damaged."
- extract from report by the Chief Surveyor,
MWS&DB.
A total of 330 points ( 83.8 mm ) of rainfall was recorded at Sydney
Weather Bureau between 8 am and 9 am , while 3.68 inches ( 93.5 mm) was
recorded at Fairfield between 7.10 and 8.10 am.
Despite the heavy rainfall, no newspaper reports of flooding were
found. The above information was obtained from MWS&DB files.
C.3.6
February 1956 Flood
The Parramatta Advertiser of 23rd February 1956 reported that the

Parramatta River was 6 feet over the Smith Street footbridge in
Parramatta. This gives an estimated flood level of RL 3.4 (Flood
level No. 5 in Appendix C-5). It reported:
"Flood damage was ... minor.
Serious flooding
was
prevented ... because of recent completion of drainage
programmes. Potential hardship was averted because of a
City Council policy to stop building development in areas
subject to heavy flooding."
C.3.7
November 1961 Flood
November 1961 produced many accounts of

violent
storms
and
considerable damage.
The worst of the flooding occurred in the
Windsor/Richmond area. The Sydney Morning Herald, the Cumberland
Argus and the Parramatta Advertiser all carried reports of flooding
in and around Parramatta, although generally at places upstream from
the rivers and streams under study. Two people drowned in a canal in
Auburn near the bridge at Rawson Street. This canal appears to be
Haslams Creek and the Rawson Street Bridge seems to have been where
the canal crosses what is now Boorea Street. At the bridge the road
was covered to a depth of 3 feet over a distance of 75 yards. There
is a photograph in the Sydney Morning Herald showing the top water
The report also mentions a house in Wilfred
level at the bridge.
Street (Lidcombe) being flooded to the top of its windows.
The
Parramatta Advertiser has a photograph of the Parramatta River
flowing under the Lennox Bridge, saying this was an "all time record
level".
This "record level" appears to be about 1-1.5 metres below
the top of the arch, well below those reported in 1889 and 1914 and
would indicate a flood level at the upstream bridge face of from
RL 5.8 to RL 6.3. A flood level of RL 5.8 m has been adopted and
included as No. 8 in Appendix C-5. The paper went on to say that "in
Parramatta itself every bridge except Lennox Bridge and Gasworks
Bridge (McArthur/Harris Streets) was submerged."
The Cumberland
Argus has a photograph of the low level bridge at O'Connell Street
and mentions that water reached 3 feet up the side wall, since
demolished, of the old David Jones' Store in Church Street.
C-5
C.3.8
March 1967 Flood
In March 1967 only the Parramatta Advertiser made any mention of

flooding, referring to Harold and Grose Streets, Parramatta, and
This flood is also
several factories in the North Rocks area.
mentioned in the MWS&DB files. It appears to have been mainly due to
deficiencies in local drainage around the Brickfield Creek stormwater
channel.
Localised nuisance flooding was also reported in the
adjoining Vineyard Creek and Subiaco Creek catchments.
C.3.9
April 1969 Flood
The Sydney Morning Herald was the only newspaper to report flooding
on 15th April 1969, stating that the "Parramatta River was flooded
between North Parramatta and Rydalmere."
C.3.10
October 1972 Flood
MWS&DB records indicate flooding and property damage occurred in the

upper sections of A'Becketts Creek, Merrylands, on the 16th and
Powells Creek, Strathfield, on the 29th. Both areas are, however,
upstream of the tidal influence. These floods were attributed to
inadequate local drainage channels and, subsequently, improvements to
the channels have been carried out at both locations.
C.3.11
April 1974 Flood
On 25th April , 1974 a storm , referred to as the "Anzac Day storm",

produced extreme rainfalls over parts of the Duck Creek catchment.
The falls were caused by a slow-moving , intense thunderstorm centred
There were several
reports of
over Guildford and Merrylands.
flooding of Duck Creek and Duck River upstream of Parramatta Road,
The Review Pictorial has a photograph of
outside the study area .
Euston Road ( Auburn ) showing flooding that was said to be "almost a
repetition of the flooding that occurred on 15th April 1969".
C.4:
PERSONAL INTERVIEWS
C.4.1
The occupants of No. 1 Rangihou Crescent, Parramatta, who

have lived at that address for twenty six years had no
recollection of specific dates of flooding but said that
there had occasionally been "minor" overtopping of the
banks. The part of the bank which was levelled for
cross-sectional information has not been inundated during
The level at which minor
the time of their residence.
overtopping occurs was determined by survey to be RL 1.9 m
(Flood level No. 38 in Appendix C.5).
C.4.2
At Broughton Street, some 500 metres downstream of Rangihou

Crescent, residents recalled that about thirty years ago
This
the water reached "the top of the fence posts".
probably refers to the flood of 1956, which was slightly
larger than the flood of 1961, and it can be assumed that
the existing fence is approximately the same height as the
old one. No other floods were particularly remembered,
although the land has been submerged on some occasions.
From site observations the flood level is estimated to have
been RL 2.5 m (Flood level No. 3 in Appendix C.5).
C.4.3
As mentioned in Section 5.2, the Naval Stores on the north

bank of the Parramatta River just downstream of the
The depth over
Silverwater Bridge were flooded in 1974.
the concrete floor in two of the buildings was indicated as
4 inches. High spring tides frequently just overtop the
banks but no other flood level information was available.
C.4.4
On the south side of the river , downstream of James Ruse

Drive, the land is either industrial or recreational. The
works manager at Meggit Ltd., Thackeray Street, Camellia,
remembered a maximum flood height at a small ( 150 mm dia)
pipe outlet occurring " some time in the last sixteen
years", but unfortunately could not remember exactly when,
although it appears possible that it could have been in
Survey of this flood observation indicates a flood
1974.
level of RL 2 . 3 m (No. 29 in Appendix C.5).
C.4.5
The company secretary of Southern Cross Machinery Pty Ltd.,

at the eastern end of Grand Avenue, Camellia , located a
company history , showing that no flooding had occurred at
the site in the last forty years. This site was filled in
the mid 1940s to give a freeboard of one foot for the then
known maximum flood height and in 1956 the water level was
actually recorded as being one foot below the top of the
The present level of this embankment is
embankment .
approximately RL 1.9, indicating a flood level of RL 1.6
( No. 4 in Appendix C.5).
C.4.6
premises
Interviews were conducted with occupants of
backing on to Duck River , between Parramatta Road and its
Mr. Horan, of
confluence with the Parramatta River.
Horan's Steel , Junction Street, Auburn , pointed out a level
on a railway culvert discharging into Duck River as the
reached during the last forty years. An
highest level
employee of Philtop Enterprises Pty. Ltd., of Carnarvon
Streeet, Auburn , stated that the river had "never been
within two feet of the ( private ) railway line ". The Shell
C-7
and BP refineries could not supply any information on

flooding. Lubrizol Australia of River Street, Silverwater,
had not experienced flooding in the period since 1960.
The
crew at the Fire Station in Adderley Street, Silverwater
had no records of any properties being flooded other than a
factory at the north end of Duck Street, Auburn, which has
a basement excavated below the normal river level. This
factory is currently unoccupied, and it was not possible to
gain access to it.
C.4.7
Local residents state that the south bank of the Parramatta

River near Noller Parade, Parramatta, which features a low
stone retaining wall at approximately RL 1.0 m AHD, has
never been overtopped by floodwaters. This observation was
confirmed by staff at the Accessory Manufacturing Co., Jean
Street, Rydalmere, who had been working at the factory for
more than 20 years. Residents of John Street, Rydalmere
could remember the river rising to within 30 feet of the
road during high tides. Regrading of the area many years
ago has prevented further tidal flooding.
The Naval
Armaments Depot at Newington which borders the south side
of
the
Parramatta River from Jamieson Street in a
north-easterly direction for over a kilometre has no
records of flooding.
This river frontage is largely
mangrove swamp and floods or high tides have no significant
effects.
No.
DATE OF
FLOOD
LOCATION / DESCRIPTION
RL (AHD)
SOURCE
RELIABILITY
1.
27.05.1889
Lennox Bridge, Parramatta upstream of drawdown
7.9
Sydney Morning Herald
fair
2.
21.03.1914
7.3
Sydney Morning Herald
fair
North bank Parramatta River, East end Broughton St
2.5
Resident
3.
1956?
date
uncertain
4.
02.1956
South bank Parramatta River, East end Grand Parade
1.6
Factory records
poor
5.
02.1956
Smith Street footbridge, Parramatta
3.4
4.67
Parramatta Advertiser
Parramatta C.C.
poor
good
6.
02.1956
Upstream side Lennox Bridge , Parramatta
6.34
Parramatta C.C.
good
North bank Parramatta River, East side Morton St
3.38
Parramatta C.C.- F.L. 45
7.
1956?*
date
uncertain
8.
11.1961
5.8
Parramatta C.C.- photos
fair
9.
6.03.1967
East side Vineyard Ck, between Victoria Rd and

Anderson St
8.90
good
East side Subiaco Ck, opposite Crowgey Reserve
3.82
date
uncertain
West side Subiaco Ck, just north of Victoria Road
4.90
good
Subiaco Ck, opposite lot 9 Clyde St, Rydalmere
3.18
date
uncertain
10.
11.
12.
1967?
6.03.1967
1967?
13.
6.03.1967
Upstream side Lennox Bridge, Parramatta
6.10
Parramatta C.C.
good
14.
6.03.1967
Downstream side Lennox Bridge, Parramatta
4.72
Parramatta C.C.
good
15.
6.03.1967
Smith Street footbridge, Parramatta
5.01
Parramatta C.C.
good
16.
15.04.1969
South side Duck Creek, just north of George St
3.95
good
17.
15.04.1969
Just west of Duck Ck/ Duck River confluence, Hill St
2.47
good
18.
15.04.1969
West side Duck River, just south of Parramatta Rd
4.10
good
19.
15.04.1969
Hamilton St, just west of Duck Ck/A'Becketts Ck
3.82
good
20.
15.04.1969
West side Duck River , just upstream of Mona St Bridge 6.57
good
No.
DATE OF
FLOOD
21.
16.10.1972
A'Becketts Ck, east end of A'Beckett St
4.00
good
22.
25 . 04.1974
South side Duck Creek, just north of George St
5.12
good
23.
25.04.1974
Nest side Duck River, just south of Parramatta Rd
3.60
good
24.
25.04.1974
Hamilton St , just west of Duck Ck/A'Oeckett's Ck
4.84
good
25.
25.04.1974
A'Becketts Ck, east end of A'Beckett St
5.00
good
26.
25.04.1974?
West side Duck Creek , just south of Parramatta Rd
3.82
good
27.
25. 04.1974
Duck River, under Mona St Bridge
6.06
good
28.
26.04.1974
East side Duck Creek, just upstream of Memorial Or
6.41
good
LOCATION / DESCRIPTION
RL (ADD )
SOURCE
RELIABILITY
29.
1974?
South bank Parramatta River, East side Thackeray St
2.3
Works Manager
poor
30.
1974?
North bank Parramatta River, Naval Store Ermington
1.5
Stores Personnel
fair
31.
21 .06.1975
Upstream side Lennox Bridge , Parramatta
3.20
Parramatta C.C.
good
32.
21.06.1975
Downstream side Lennox Bridge , Parramatta
3.11
Parramatta C.C.
good
33.
21.06.1975
Upstream side Charles St weir, Parramatta
2.98
good
34.
21.06.1975
West side Subiaco Ck, No. 11 Bridge St, Rydalmere
3.68
Resident
good
35.
4.03.1977
2.96
good
36.
20-03.1978
2.95
good
37.
2.11.1981
2.33
good
38.
Unknown
North bank Parramatta River, Rangihou Crescent
1.9
Resident
poor
39.
Unknown
East side Duck River, near confluence Duck Ck
1.7
Factory Manager
poor
* Note: A question mark alongside the date of a flood indicates that

the actual date was not recorded.
APPENDIX D
FLOOD ESTIMATES DATA
D-1:
RATIONAL METHOD FLOOD ESTIMATES FOR PARRAMATTA RIVER - 1984
Location
Total Area
Contributing
(km2)
Time Of
Concentration
Flood Peak
(m3/s)
(hrs)
Charles Street Weir
107.7
1.9
Vineyard Creek confl.
112.4
2.2
924
830
710
Duck River confluence
167.5
2.8
1030
895
730
Ryde Bridge
212.0
3.5
1081
923
731
(913)* (820) (689)
Adopted from 1976 Report
A runoff coefficient "C" value of 0.5 was adopted for all storms.
"C"
is a function of the degree of urbanisation, the rainfall intensity and
other catchment features. The rational method estimates were prepared
on the basis of a fully urbanised catchment with appropriate allowance
for Council's development controls.
RSWM SUBCATCHMENT DETAILS AND ADOPTED PARAMETER VALUES - 1984
D.2:
Subcatchment
No.
Description
Toongabbie Creek
70.1
0.33
91
Darling Mills and

Hunts Creek
30.4
0.85
66
Residual to
Charles Street Weir
7.2
0.90
84
Vineyard Creek
4.58
0.90
70
5.
Subiaco Creek
9.77
0.56
80
Duck River
45.15
0.15
80
Various
Tributaries
10.38
1.20
80
Haslams Creek
19.92
0.20
50
Powells Creek
12.39
0.20
60
2.06
0.05
85
Residual River
Area
Total
Subcatchment Details
Area
Slope
(%)
(km2)
211.95
D-2
Mean
Adopted Parameter Values

rani- Initial Continuing
sation Rainfall
Rainfall
%
Loss (mm) Loss (mm/h)
78
APPENDIX E
UNSTEADY STATE FLOW MODEL, USTFLO
E.l:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The program was originally obtained from the Flood Control Branch,
Tennessee Valley Authority and modified at the Hydrologic Engineering
Centre.
The purpose of the program is to simulate movement of hydraulic
transients by solving the basic equations of unsteady flow, the
St. Venant equations, in one dimension.
In general, the program permits the user to prescribe either a stage
change or a discharge change at two boundaries and to calculate the
resulting profiles of discharge, elevation and velocity throughout
the entire distance between the two boundaries at points in time as
the transient moves in either the downsteam or the upstream
direction.
The upstream boundary may be prescribed by a discharge hydrograph or
a stage hydrograph.
Points are coded as co-ordinate values, for
example, time and discharge or time and elevation and randomly spaced
time co-ordinate points may be utilised.
Boundary conditions at the downstream end may be prescribed with a
rating curve in addition to the stage or discharge hydrograph. A
rating curve is-entered as stage and discharge co-ordinate points,
spaced at random intervals, as required.
The program also permits use of a rating curve to depict an upstream
boundary condition. This, however, is recommended only when flow is
in the upstream direction, in which case the rating curve would be
specified in terms of negative discharges.
When flow is in the
downstream direction, a rating curve at the upstream boundary does
not represent an independent condition and therefore is not used as a
boundary condition.
Because the basic equations for unsteady flow are complex, a
As a result,
numerical integration solution technique is required.
significantly more calculations are required to route a flood with
this program than with traditional routing programs. If several
flood hydrographs are to be routed, this program would probably be
best suited to assist in developing routing criteria, and the actual
routing studies would be most economically performed by a modified
PuTs or Muskingum routing technique.
The program provides a one-dimensional solution of the unsteady flow
equations, and does not account for the time required for water to
flow laterally out of a channel and occupy storage on a wide
It is not a network model. Lateral inflow can be
floodplain.
accommodated, but the routing accommodates only one main channel.
The program will not route flow in an initially dry channel. Streams
cannot
to
it,
be
that are "hydraulically steep", or near
It does not automatically calculate the lateral
accommodated.
outflow that would occur-should a flood overtop the valley wall and
Infiltration losses are not
spill over into the next basin.
calculated. Routing a bore is approximated, but not handled in
Flow is assumed to be well mixed so that density-stratified
detail.
flow, which often occurs near an estuary, is not accommodated.
One application of the program is routing floods along rivers or
This, however, is not intended to be the
through reservoirs.
E-1
principal use because there are other, simpler techniques for

handling normal flood routing problems. The primary value of this
program is that it handles flood routing when the hydraulics of flow
are complex.
For example, a flood may be routed in a channel which
is subject to tidal action. Likewise, it is possible to calculate
the discharge that results from tides such that the water flows
downstream on the ebb and reverses to flow in the upstream direction
on the rising tide. These are examples of hydraulic transients that
cannot be simulated by traditional hydrologic routing techniques.
This program was obtained initially for use in calculating the
outflow hydrograph at a breached dam and routing that hydrograph to
downstream points of interest to determine the peak elevations and
time of travel of the dambreak flood wave. Because of the program's
flexibility, it has also been used for many other applications. Some
examples are: (1) Routing hydraulic transients that are generated in
(2) Routing transients that
a navigation canal by lock operation.
result
from the starting or stopping of hydro-electric power
generators. These emanate in both directions from the power house
with a positive wave moving in the downstream direction and a
negative wave moving in the upstream direction when discharge is
increased.
(3) Calculating flow velocities in a navigation canal
connecting two reservoirs. The program is particularly useful for
this application since the operating stage of the reservoirs can be
prescribed and resulting discharges and flow velocities calculated in
the connecting canal. (4) Calculating the portion of the loop effect
in a stage discharge rating curve that is produced by the passing of
a flood event. (5) Calculating velocities and depths in tidal rivers
subject to flow reversals.
E.2:
MODEL TESTING - LOWER PARRAMATTA RIVER
The following trial analyses were performed and the results are shown
on Exhibit 20:
(a)
Three steady flow runs (Runs A, B and C) using the steady state
program (FLOWBD) to assess the sensitivity to of the computed
flood levels to variations in the assumed value of Manning's
The 1% probability flood peak was assumed to enter the
"n".
tidal reach of the Parramatta River at Charles Street Weir with
downstream tributary inflows as presented in Table 6.9.
In effect this modelled the occurrence of critical flows
simultaneously at all points along the river. Even though the
1% probability critical storm durations between Charles Street
Weir and Ryde Bridge ranged from 2 to 12 hours, as shown in
Table 6.5, the variation in peak discharges along the river from
of different durations was small.
Hence it was
storms
considered reasonable for the purpose of modelling to assume
that the critical flood levels could occur simultaneously along
the river in the one flood.
at Ryde Bridge.
The tide level fixed at RL 0.66 m (AHD)
Mannings "n" was constant along the entire reach using values of
0.035, 0.030 and 0.025 for runs A, B and C respectively.
(b)
One unsteady flow run (Run D) using program USTFLO to compare

the estimated unsteady profile with the corresponding steady
flow profile with a Manning's "n" value of 0.030.
The 1%
probability flood hydrograph from the 2 hour storm was assumed
to enter the tidal reach of Parramatta River at Charles Street
Weir with tributary inflows from Vineyard Creek, Subiaco Creek,
Duck River, various minor tributaries, Haslams Creek and Powells
Creek.
Two initial analyses were performed using the flood estimates
from the 2 and 6 hour storms in order to assess the critical
storm duration for peak flood levels. The 2 hour duration storm
resulted in higher flood levels than the 6 hour storm at all
The 2 hour storm was
computation points on the river.
subsequently used to estimate the peak flood profiles for the
unsteady model.
A semi-diurnal tide cycle with an amplitude of 0.66 m about MSL
at Ryde Bridge was assumed as the downstream boundary condition.
The plotted profile was obtained by adjusting the phasing of the
inflow hydrographs with the tide cycle to maximise river levels.
(c)
Two steady flow runs (Runs E and F) using FLOWBD with a starting
level of RL 0.00 m (AHD) and a flood discharge of 540 m3/s. This
flood discharge is approximately the magnitude of the 1956 and
1967 floods as calculated by the RSWM-1984 (Table 6.4). In the
first run it was assumed that Manning's "n" was constant
throughout the river reach at 0.025 while in the second
The
Manning's "n" was increased to 0.035 above Duck River.
flood profile was close to the observed profile.
second
Therefore a Manning's "n" equal to 0.025 below Duck River and
0.035 upstream thereof was adopted for all further hydraulic
(unsteady and steady state) modelling of the Lower Parramatta
River.
E-3
(d)
One (Run G) steady flow profile commencing at tide level

RLO.66 m (AHD) was evaluated to show the effect of the variation
of tide level at Ryde Bridge. In other respects the parameter
values were the same as with Run F, which started at RL 0.00 m
(AHD). The two profiles merged just upstream of the Duck River
confluence.
(e)
The sensitivity of the computed flood profiles to the adopted

design discharges and Manning's "n" values was tested with two
These trial runs
sets of trial runs using program FLOWBD.
involved, in the first place, increasing and decreasing the
assumed peak discharges by 20%. These runs were followed by
similar adjustments to the adopted Manning's "n" values. At the
Duck River confluence, the estimated flood level was found to be
relatively insensitive to variations in the peak discharge or
Manning's "n" values. The computed flood levels at Charles
Street Weir were found to be more sensitive to variations in
discharge and Manning's "n". A 20% change in either of these
parameters causes the estimated flood level to vary by up to
approximately 0.8 m at Charles Street Weir.
H
W
H
m
x
x
PACIFIC
OCEAN
UPPER PARRAMATTA
RIVER CATCHMENT
a FPIanELD
LEGEND
Period of devetopment
D Up to 1856
I= 1856 to 1881
1881 to 1917
NZE 1917 to 1947
fiz;;^ 1947 in 1956
1956 to 1967
UM 1967 to 1975
I
(b)
UPPER
Open space
CATCHMENT URBANISATION
LOCALITY AND URBANISATION

MAPS
EXHIBIT I
I
RYDE BRIDGE
CATCHMENT AREA 212km2
LEGEND
SUB-CATCHMENT No.'s
CREEKS AND RIVERS
CATCHMENT BOUNDARY
- SUB-CATCHMENT BOUNDARY
AREA (T8!)
URBANISED
Hi
T"q
PASTURE, PARKLAND, ETC. (13%)

FOREST (9%)
s213CO5
STREAM GAUGING
L?
PROPOSED MAJOR
(1980)
BASINS
STATION & No.
RETARDING
4 kilometre
SCALE
CATCHMENT MAP
EXHIBIT 2
L INOX
B+1DGE
VICTORIA!
R yER
PAR.RAA4ACT
GRANVILLE
-CH
H 384
CH 4306
CH 4714
MONA ST.
CH 4840---
LEGEND
CH 7500 CROSS SECTION
197T- DATE OF HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY
LOWER
NOTES
I
2
SURVEY BY WILLING & PARTNERS SHOWN 3

PREVIOUS SURVEY SHOWN +
3.
ALL OTHER SURVEY BY PWD
4,
BENCHMARKS LISTED IN APPENDIX A-2
0.5
0.5
1 kilometre
PARRAMATTA RIVER FLOOD STUDY
LOCATION OF SURVEYED
RIVER CROSS.SECTIONS
SCALE
EXHIBIT 3
AHU
Im)
(ft)
Iml
(fit
(m{
RELATIVE
VALUES OF LEVELS PRIMARY REFERENCE STATION
(1t)
(m)
- - SYDNEY
(m)
SUBTRACT 0046m from

BENCH MARK Brass plug in northern wall of Lands Dept
8.775 8.821 28.94
STANDARD DATUM to get

AHD
9x87 9.714
Railway ConStruction & Existing
2.93
5B6 1.786
0.856 2.81
5.74 1-750
0.847 01893
0'810
4C__,
sZL-N,
Sydney Water Board - Sewerage

Mean High Water Springs IMHWS)
0.551
0.597 1.96
1.564 5.13
1.609
4.73
1.480
1.320 4-33
1.351
M L 0-893 2.93
0938
4-89 1-490 Sewerage. & Health Board Maps

Mean High Water Level (MHWL)
t.442
Sydney Water Board - Water. Harbour
D472 0.518 1.70
4.63 1-411 & Rivgrs .
0.457 0503 1.65
4.58 1-396
^_ ^^ ,_,^ ^ ,,,,
Lands Department
Water Neaps (MHWN)
Mean High
Water level at a particular time
Minus
0.046
000 0-00
2.93 C-893
M e a n Sea Lev el
Aj ARD _
Military Topographical
NSW
Main Roads
Public Works (Dam Construction)
Public Transport
Commission
M o wW a t r ea s ML WN)
City Council (Since 4.10-27)
01488 1.60
0.54
v
can
wW ter Level (MLWL
0.41
0
S
S
c
t rSurin s MLWSI
Old Zero at Fort Denison

Tide Guage
'or on LowWaterIISLW)
H dr ogr a^h+c Datu ^NSWI Maritime
0.00
Services
0.244 0-80
0.12
0.41
Oq
0.0
0-28
Board
ra
New uniform Data Zero on Primary

Reference Station at Fort Denison
from 11 54
in
2
z
E
z
<
O
^
A
m
St
at
x
Li
w
m
at
Q
S
O
a
IN-
N
w
0
^
w
p
z
NOTE There is no constant comparison between Tidal Values and any Land Datum.The Maritime Services
d
N
Board can supply tide values (related to Zero tide guage)
The correction from Standard Datum to AHD (subtract 0-046m1 only applies in the neat vicinty of the
Lands Department plug (inner Metropolitan Area), Correction values for other locations throughout NSW
should be acertained from
Survey
Co Ordination
Branch, Crown Lands Officer Lands Dept.
NOTE --
1. INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY
DEPARTMENT OF LANDS.
__j
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
SURVEY DATUMS
EXHIBIT 4
STATION
1880
NUMBER
90
1900
10
CONCORD GOLF CLUB

EASTWOOD -000OS AVE.
EPPING -CHESTER ST.
MERRYLANDS
PARRAMATTA
PENNANT HILLS
PENNANT HILLS WEST
POTTS HILL PUMPING STN.
LIDCOMBE GOLF CLUB
RYDE PUMPING STN.
CONCORD- WALKER HOSPITAL
CONCORD WEST - PLASTER MILLS
AUBURN - WAGON WORKS
066013
066019
066020
066038
066046
066047
066048
066050
066055
066057
066064
066082
066085
066087
066091
066092
066109
066121
066124_.
066134
066135
066164
066169
066174
067001
067005
067006
067008
067011
067012
067019
067026
067032
CHESTER HILL
PARRAMATTANORTHH
GRANVILLE -. SHELL REFINERY
SILVERWATER
STRATHFIELD COUNCIL
VILLAWOOD ARCHIVES
DUNDAS
CASTLE HILL 2
FAIRFIELD POST OFFICE
FAIRFIELD MWS&DB
GUILDFORD
GRANVILLE
KELLYVILLE
PROSPECT DAM
SEVEN HILLS EXPERIMENTAL FARM
WESTMEAD - AUSTRAL AVE .
067053
CASTLE HILL 1
067059
067070
067080
067089
BLACKTOWN - KILDARE ROAD

MERRYLANDS - WELLSFORD ST.
WINSTON HILLS
PENNANT HILLS C.F.S.
P RRAMATTA COUNCIL
NOT E
DATE
LOCATION
20
30
40
77
1950
60
70
1980
RECORDS : 1832 - 38 , ' 8 51 - 61 , 1870 - 76

NO
,;
RECORDS AVAILABLE
-v ,
EASTWOOD BOWLING CLUB

BURWOOD 2 - PUBLIC SCHOOL
DURAL
HUNTERS HILL 2 - THE BUNGALOW
PtUVIOGRAPH
RECORDS
LOST
MEESE=
No RECORDS AVAILABLE
NO RECORDS AVAILABLE
.Mai
LEGEND
-^ DAILY
READ GAUGE
PLUVIOGRAPH
RAINFALL RECORDS
EXHIBIT 5
INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
066020
EPPING (CHESTER ST. )
1869
066109
HUNTERS HILL
066019
EASTWOOD
067089
WEST PENNANT
ILLS (C. F.S.)
1914,1967
066087
EASTWOOD
BOWLING CLUB
1956,
1961,
1967
066082
CONCORD WEST
^s
.
\FFk
66091
BURWOOD PUBLIC
^'---^... SCHOOL
STRATHFIELD .
066164
11914 ,1956
1 1956, 1961,1967
0
067070
MERRYLANDS
(WELLSFORD ST.)
LEGEND
DAILY READ RAIN GAUGE
* PLUVIOGRAPH STATION
1914
INDICATES DATA USED IN MODEL

STUDIES
4 kilometre
SCALE
LOCATIONS OF
RAINFALL STATIONS
EXHIBIT 6
m
11
10
20
30
40
50
100
200
300
500
400
1.
'
,.
..
r.: :...
,
i
'
r:
2
1
,.
0.3
20% PROBABILITY
50% PROBABILITY
,: ^
.e
î
.'^
, I
;...
II
0.4
'r
'
t-
;,!
1'
0.5
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1 -E
.. . Ir!
if.
^ I ^
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r {.
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: .. t
1'i f
.,
^,.
'.
c .
is
i::.:
, .
..
1 .
'
02
Ì
6 1
PROBABILITY
2% PROBABILITY
5
4
5% PROBABILITY
3
10% PROBABILITY
*/6
._
:_::
..
.}
LEGEND
0.1
I.u
^
1
,i
i -
.....
1.0
!;
'
.....
.f
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J,
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t.
if
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4 1
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III
!.
i,lr,1
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111
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t,
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II
i1k
-^
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500
0, 5
10
20
30
40
50
100
200
300
400
VICTORIA
RD.
RYDALMERE
RIVER
HARRIS
STREET
SILVERWATER
BRIDGE
21x25
GRANVILLE
LEGEND
HISTORICAL FLOOD LEVEL
AND REF. No.(APPENDIX C-5)
NOTE' LOCATIONS REFERRED TO IN

5I
SECTION
REPORT
LOWER
0.5
0 .5
SCALE
PARRAMATTA RIVER
FLOOD STUDY
I kilometre
POSITIONS
FLOOD
OF OBSERVED
LEVELS
EXHIBIT 8
BALUSTRADE
R.L. 10.26
10
1000 m3/s
791 m 3 /s
4q':4
--
--
4'4.
540 m3/
6
J
W
- --
--
--
-- - -
!2>^ X3,8
W
J
-- ----
--
.4
a'.
00
U.
mx
Lw
zc
a
m
Qa
Q
aw a w
w
w>
0
W0
00.
z
w
z
w
z
z-'
0
0 '
w
H0
Z
of
0Q
Ja 0D
a
a
w
a.
a
a
J
a
w
I-
z
z
w
J
NOTES:
1.
THE FLOOD PROFILES SHOWN WERE

DERIVED
FROM THE HYDRAULIC MODEL
DESCRIBED
IN THE 1980 REPORT
'STUDIES
AND SHOWN ON FIGURE A2 (a) OF
THAT REPORT.
FLOOD
2. OBSERVED
AS FOLLOWS ;
46
A
A
0
1889
1914
1956
1961
1967
1975
LEVELS
SHOWN
LOWER
25
25
HORIZONTAL
50
SCALE
75
(METRES)
100
PROFILES AT
FLOOD
LENNOX BRIDGE
EXHIBIT 9
RECORDED
YEAR
11.0
FLOODS
LEVEL
LEVEL OF
HYDRAULIC
FEATURES
R.L.1O.26
TOP OF BRIDGE
BALUSTRADE
10.0
9.0
8.0
1889
7-9
1914
7.3
1956
6.34
7.0
R.L. 7.5 LOW POINT IN

CHURCH ST.
R.L.7.29 UNDERSIDE
ARCH
OF
1967- -- 6.10
5.8
1961
6.0
N
0
5.0
- 1975
2.0
0
to
0 W
to co
- 3 .20
R.L.3'29
OF ARCH
"SPRINGING"
OF
R.L.1.9
CREST
WEIR
CHARLES ST.
ti
1.0
NOTE' FOR LOCATION OF RATING

REFER EXHIBIT 9
CURVE
0.0

RIVER BED
-I.0
200
400
600
DISCHARGE - m3/s
Boo
000
1200
RATING CURVES FOR

LENNOX BRIDGE
EXHIBIT 10
1100
1050
1030
1020
1
1
1000
ADOPTED URBAN
RSWM ( 1984)
913
900
791
BOO
710
ME
700
URBAN
BAND
610
600
1967
1961
500
1961
'.fODD"' FREDOENCY;AN.ALYSIS
8
-.:L'ENNOX `':Ilk10GE
PLOTITED' ROM:OBSERVED FLOODS
RURAL
BAND
300
200
100
20
10
0.5%
EXCEEDANCE PROBABILITY - PERCENT
FLOOD ESTIMATES AT
AND
BRIDGE
LENNOX
CHARLES
LEGEND:
NOTES:
RSWM (1984)
1. CATCHMENT
IS 104 km2.
V SYNTHETIC UNIT HYDROGRAPH (1984)

FITZGERALD
URBAN (1983)
+ FITZGERALD
RURAL (1983)
RSWM
ST.
WEIR
AREA TO
LENNOX BRIDGE
2- CATCHMENT AREA TO CHARLES ST.

WEIR IS 108 km .
(1980,LENNOX BR.)
R S W M ( 1976)
RATIONAL METHOD (1976 & 1984)
Is
FLOOD, LENNOX BR.
OBSERVED
(PROBABILITY BASED ON RAINFALL
EVENT, SHOWING RANGE OF PROBABILITY.)
OF FLOOD
COMPARISON
PROBABILITY CURVES
EXHIBIT II
2501-
EPPING (CHESTER ST. )

2001-
EASTW00D
a 100r
0
F
EASTWOOD
BOWLING
CLUBY
CASTLE H14 L
CONCORD
PLUVIOGRAPH RECORD- RYDE

* V,
S ILVERWATER
CONCORD WEST
DUNDAS
'BURWOOD PUBLIC
SCHOOL
j-x/PARRAMATTA
COUNCIL
j
PARRAMATTA,
WESTMEAD
LEGEND
200
GRANVILLE,
0
LIDCOMBE
v,GOLF CLUB
SUB-CATCHMENT No's
CREEKS AND RIVERS
CATCHMENT BOUNDARY
SUB-CATCHMENT BOUNDARY
ISOHYET 24 HOUR RAINFALL6pm-6pm
PLUVIOGRAPH
STATION USED TO
DETERMINE ISOHYETS
PROSPECT
DAM
BLACKTOWN
2
4 kilometre
SCALE
CATCHMENT MAP
SHOWING STORM ISOHYETS
9th-10th FEBRUARY 1956
EXHIBIT 12
300
EPPING (CHESTER ST.)
RAINFALL SHOWN
ON ISOHYETS
E
E
CRITICAL
BURST
RYDE
---SYDNEY
EASTWOOD
BOWLING
CLUB
1200
2400
2400
17TH
2400
19TH
18TH
PLUVIOGRAPH
CONCOR
1200
RECORDS
0 CONCORD WEST
0 BURWOOD PUBLIC
CHOOL
C.
-X/PARRAMATTA
/I COUNCIL
LEGEND
WESTMEAD
GRANVILLE
to
SEVEN
HILLS
SUB-CATCHMENT N's
CREEKS AND RIVERS
-- -- - CATCHMENT BOUNDARY
/60
ISOHYET 24HOUR RAINFALL 9am-9am
11

PLUVIOGRAPH
RYDE
PROSPECT
DAM
STATION USED TO
ISOHYETS
DETERMINE
GUILDFORD
BLAOI OWN
2
4 kilometre
SCALE
CATCHMENT MAP
SHOWING STORM ISOHYETS
13th NOVEMBER 1961
EXHIBIT 13
100
CRITICAL
E
E
BURST
50
0
TIME
1800
1300
6600
2400
6TH
5TH
DATE
(a)
PLUVIOGRAPH RECORDS, 5 -6
MARCH, 1967
IW
E
E
100
/
50
i^
1800
21 ST
1200
TIME
DATE
(b)
LEGEND,
2400
0600
22ND
1200
PLUVIOGRAPH RECORDS, 21 - 22 JUNE, 1975
PLUVIOGRAPH STN
066050 POTTS HILL
066057 RYDE
067006 FAIRFIELD
067006
GUILDFORD
PLUVIOGRAPH RECORDS
MARCH 1967 AND JUNE 1975
EXHIBIT 14
LEER PARRA MATTA RIVER FLOOD STUDY
DIAGRAMM ATIC REPRESENTATION

OF THE RSW M
EXHIBIT 15
NOTE
I.
REFER EXHIBIT 17 FOR

SUB - CATCHMENT DETAILS
LOWER PAR RAMATTA RIVER FLOOD STUDY
REPRESENTATION OF LINKS
IN
THE RSWM
EXHIBIT 16
LEGEND
CREEKS AND RIVERS
A 10.38
1.20
CATCHMENT BOUNDARY
RYDE BRIDGE
8400
ISOCHRONE
DISCONTINUITY IN ISOCHRONES
9
A
S
0 -56
U 84 -00
0.4y
I
O^ 77
A 7.20 0'
S 0.90 1
U 8400
/ I
A 70.10
0-33
S
U 91 00
/ I o^ ^ )
A 12-39
S 0.20
U 6000
pARRA
0.1
02--Y /^
,-
\^--
A45.15
S 0.15
U 8000
/ A 19.92
S 4.20
U 50-00
NOTES
I.
A 70.10
S 0.33
U 9I'000
SUB CATCHMENT No.

CATCHMENT AREA (ha)
CATCHMENT SLOPE (%)
URBANISATION (%)
REFER EXHIBIT 16 FOR RSWM

LINK DIAGRAM
4 kilometre
CATCHMENT MAP
WITH ISOCHRONES
EXHIBIT 17
330
385
450
1025
1160
1330
2
795
5% PROBABILITY
FLOOD (m3/S)
920
2% PROBABILITY
FLOOD (m3/S)
1050
1% PROBABILITY
FLOOD (m3/ S )
dfi 1.00
- RSWM LINK No. & NODE
NOTES
1.
* I% FLOOD AT CHARLES STREET

FROM ' DESIGN
WEIR ADOPTED
FLOODS, SECTION 67.
LOWER PAR RAMATTA RIVER FLOOD STUDY
2.
PEAK DISCHARGES AT JUNCTIONS ARE

JUST
DOWNSTREAM
SPECIFIED
THE JUNCTION.
OF
ADOPTED PEAK
FLOWS
DESIGN
EXHIBIT IS
PROBABILITY - PERCENT
i
10
20
50 100
LEGEND
1-50
FORT DENISON
TB I - BOWDEN STREET
^ 1X
1.40
0
i
TB 2 - SILVERWATER
TB 3 - Mu ARTHUR
EXTRAPOLATION
OF THE M. S.B's
CURVE BY THE
CONSULTANT.
1.30
a
1.20
BRIDGE LINE .
STREET
BRIDGE
ADOPTED DESIGN TIDE
fi
1.10
CURVE
SUP PLIE D
BY M . S . B
w
1.00
w
0
I-
0-90
I
0.80
b
0-01
002 0.05 01 0-2

AVERAGE
(a)
0-5
NUMBER
OF
PER
ANNUM
10
20
50 100 200
0
0
TIMES
RECORDED
FREQUENCY CURVE OF HIGH

NOTE : TIDES WERE RECORDED
TIDES.
AT FORT DENISON DURING THE PERIOD
1916 TO
1945.
0
N
0
w
` 10 00 11 00 12 00 13.00 1400 15 00 1600 1700 18 00 19 00 2000 21 00 2200 23 00 2400 100 200 300
EASTERN
(b)
NOTE
SUMMER
TIME - 2 February 1983
OBSERVED AND DESIGN TIDES
ALL ELEVATIONS
HAVE
BEEN
(c)
LOCATION
(GAUGES
0
OF TIDE :GAUGES
SHOWN
2
THUS
0 I
K ILO;'Z-TRZS
TIDE DtTA FOR

LOW ER PARF; C ,l.TTA RIVER
EXHIBIT I
LEGEND
10.0
L. 400 TOP OF DECK
A - FLOWED
8 - FLOWED n a 0-035 , Q 1050 m/9
90
REFER
FIG. 9
C FLOWS n= 0 025 i Q 1050 m/8
ARC! RL7'29
ukimm
n a 0 - 035, Q - 1050 m/O
D - USTFLO
6.0
n - 0.030, 0 = 1050 m/a
E - FLOWED ' n - 0.025, 0

4-0
4.0
-A
.^^
_.^.-..
-.te r-.
^_
.+
--
.r --.
Vr. y
rte
...
_ ^-
r ^
2.0
ZW
^s
a
J
s
J
"'-^
HISTORICAL FLOOD LEVEL AND REF. No.
---
(APPENDIX C-5)
W
N
pp rp
Z
9
\
540 m/s
n . 0.025 , CH. 1000 -5100

n 0.025, CH5100-10160
Q= 540m/a
G - AS FOR RUN F, F.L. CH. 1000 R.L. 0.66
2.0
00
F - FLOWED
00
N tt-
23
4a
^
_
-6a
m
>
'
y.
w
W
C
1-
<
16
N
e
-
ryry
ry
N
i i ijti i1 1
L' j
I1
I
m
i i
[f
a
N
Q
II
^ I)
N
tV
<
N
N
t
N
(^
}t
P!
N
lV
N
t
01
'r
a
N
P
nl
-8.0
13
O
W
N
^1
N
N
f
N
<
qq
N J
N
F*:
N
JQ
_
^,
<
J FT
I
m(
a)
N
Q
2.0
-6.0
H
N
---- DISCHAR GE
--- MANNING
-4.0
W
4
^
(y
/ ((yy
R q
N M
C HAINAGE
yy^^
S
BED LEVEL
%
w
3
TT
N
t
N
N
O
/1
m
N
N
N
y
tti
^N
y
p
t, I
N
NN
q
ryN
n
f
^p
IB
14
F
N
^y
i
N
y
$
N
lV
'
-q
-20
m
$
MI
m
M
0
% ERROR
to
(b) EFFECT OF % ^RROR IN DISCHARGE

& MANNINGS 'n VALUES AT DUCK
RIVER CONFLUENCE.
SECTION
LONGITUDINAL
83
'0
40
i
1 .
DISCHARGE
"- MAM$I$6a
0
L066
00
'w
6.0
R .L000
J
O
J
M
W, ^
R t
gg
tat
Z a
S5
-4.0
TTT 7
G
0
Q
7 T7 T
7TT T
5-0
/
J
W
>
Mj
J
/^
E E E E E E E E E
I I ?.
:
:
E E
I E E E E E
ww
'0
w
43
-10
0:
T
^
(c) EFFECT OF % ERROR IN DISCHARGE

a MANNINGS n VALUES AT
CHARLES STREET WEIR.
If
OWER
BED LEVEL
CHAINAGE
$ e
0
% ERROR
a
^`
It
(G) FLOOD
LONGITUDINAL
VERTICAL SCALE
$D
LOWER PARRA MATTA
^^
TRIAL FLOOD
RIVER
PROFILES
EXHIBIT 20
SECTION
PROFILES
PARRAMATTA RIVER FL000 STUDY
HORIZONTAL SCALE
5. 0
50I
4-0
4-0
30
3-0
20
2.0
00
00
_10
I
v
NOTES
I.
2.
w
i
J
- 3-0
ALL LEVELS ARE TO m. A.H.D.

REFER EX . 23 TO 26 FOR FLOOD
LEVELS AND FLOW DISTRIBUTION
-30
LEGEND
40
^
j
-_ ;
-^
i)
i^
111111
LEVEL
BED
I=
I % FLOOD LEVEL
^
I
'
2% FLOOD LEVEL
5% FLOOD LEVEL
STORM TIDE LEVEL R.L. I.50

-06
s l
wd I
.w
31
CHAINAGE
m
b)
N
m
,O)
N
N
.
N
m
Oi
Q
N
W^
P
81
8^ 8
bi N I
N,
hl
ql
a
0l 1
NI
Q
N
N
O
b
7
fll
0
N
P
N
hl
PI
N
tl
P
vl
NI
Yfl
P!
PI
NI
P'
N
tP
^^
hl
PI
O
,D)
PI
N
h
N
N
P)
Zi
WE
N
N
P
8
PI
O^
BED LEVEL
N
P
PI
N
h
P
O
Pl
?I
'I
LONGITUDINAL
N
-I
PI
O
'-
0p
M
P
QI
)
P^
Xf l
N
hl
P
N!
Pt
<
h
Rl
Rf
C^ppl
rt
O
nl
PI
hl
P
^ 8
N
N
N
h
Yi
ry
,
h
N
d
,o l
I
81
Mf,
,N
ell
NI
N
r
P
N
P^
P
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'f)
P
NI
^^
N
8
N
81
1 gym,
^^m
ryry
M1
P
PS I
ly e
.
h
N
NI
,D
t_
N
rI
P
m
h
A
P
m
P1
P
88
81 88 1 8 1
N,
N1
N
IA!
P
N
N
N t`)
Yf
h
8
I
SECTION
HORIZONTAL
0
SCALE
3
5mNrn
VERTICAL SCALE
LOWER PARRAMATTA RIVER

I%,2% AND 5% FLOOD PROFILES
CR 1000 - CH. 6100
EXHIBIT 21-I
40
R.L. 990
9.0
ROAD LEVEL
o
BO
^9^
z
791 m3h
8.0
'
T9
NDRS10E
OF ARCH
R.L. T,29
7-0
Jr
W.
540 m3/i
--
&0
y1
gqc
--
B0
5-0
5.0
49
-` --.. ..
^^^
^.. . ti
1.
1.
4.0
3.0
2'0
NOTE S
1.0
2.
ALL LEVELS ARE TO m. A.N.D.

REFER EX. 23 TO 26 FOR FLOOD
00
0.0
w
J
LEGEND
19
1
I % FLOOD LEVEL
10
2% FLOOD LEVEL
2
BE0
5% FLOOD LEVEL
.
2.0
LEY
LEVFO
-39
3.0
w
w
39
Q
@
"59
i
w
J
N
N
4
3
I
U
LEVEL
f;iA6E
JI V
w
Q
@
t
-S
Q
r
F
N w
Ntl F
zo
C
F
r
N
<Q g
zm 7?
^
c
Q !7
N N
I
I
88
N
-
1
9
h;
N
N
;
m
-
O
01
N
CI
0
N
d
P
-
O
N
N
O
-
f
N
N
MJ
N
N
N
N
f
N
F $ C4
N
P
%1
N
P
N
N
!1
(J
8 8
q
q
8 $
8 8
N
1
lV
1
N
f
N
N
Q
N
N
m
MI
tl
ox
Q2
C qV ^
C z QSC
$x
y^ I
^
Y ?Z
^p
N
N
N
N
Q
N
ry
O
Y
j
q
-
r
f.
1-
^.
h
f
i!
N
p
N
I
O
N
0.4
^p
P
N
0.5
@
P
CI
A
i
@
A
I
m
O
j1
500
HORIZONTAL
N
-- apookSCALE
LONGITUDINAL
SECTION
51VAN
VERTICAL SCALE
LOWR PARRAMATTA RIVER FLOOD STUDY

1
2% AND 5% FLOOD PROFILES

CH. 6100 - CR 10180
EXHIBIT 21- 2
YV
4V
/{%
-
rr
20
20
4:
-..
^
RI-1-50
> 10
R.L. .50
w
w
w
w
^ J
BED
-20
yj
>
-20
'n
a
z
LEVEL
a g
CONCRETE LINED
a a
3 f
BED
LEVEL
^ ^.^
K441NiWG
Q
N N
e'
N
q
BED
LEVEL
N
?
CNAINAGE
S
q
m
a
8d
"
01
(b) LONGITUDINAL SECTION

HASLAMS CK.
- `^"----
"
a
(c) LONGITUDINAL SECTION

POWELLS CK.
R0xIMA1ED LOCATION OF
BRIDGE UNDERSIDE
r_
5C
NOTES
40- 4
ALL LEVELS ARE TO in. A.N.D.

REFER EX. 21 & 22 FOR FLOOD
1.
2.
LEGEND
W
I % FLOOD LEVEL
2% FLOOD LEVEL
5% FLOOD LEVEL
LL
w!
tltl
O
p
p
i _
STORM TIDE LEVEL R.L. 150
IMSTORICAL FLOOD LEVEL

AND REF. No. (APPENDIX C-5)
k !
.!
i
n
-2
^TT -1,
w
-3e
LEVEL
1000
500
0
m
HORIZONTAL
m
-g
a
z
W
-0
m
W
W
Q
6
5makm
Q
%
BED
lop
Q
Q
:
LEVEL
c
VERTICAL SCALE
13
Q=
CHAIÂ6Eli
SCALE
y
n
(a) LONGITUDINAL
m n
Ti
tt
a
^ 1
Q
a a
SECTION - DUCK RIVER
p
6
4
$_
" og
N 10
pr
In
LOWER
IT I
DUCK RIVER, HASLAMS CREEK

a PO LS CREEK
I%,2% AND 5% FLOOD PROFILES
EXHIBIT 22
RYDALMERE
DUNDAS
MAIN NORTHERN
RAILWAY BRIDGE
NORTH
PARRAMATTA
4.50
4.10
3.75
4.00
3.60
3.20
2.00
1.75
I.55
RHODES
3.50
3.24
3.08
CONCORD
WEST
3.00
2.78
2.65
4.40
4.15
3.85
3.00
2.80
2.60
6.00
5.75
5.58
MAIN WESTERN
RAILWAY BRIDGE
3.60
3.38
3.14
CO Q
,zoo
2-50
2.23
2-15
NORTH
QTOATI
NOTES
6.40
6I0
5.93
I.
REFER TO EXHIBITS 21-I

FOR FLOOD PROFILES
2.
ALL LEVELS TO m. A.H.D.
2, 22
BRIDGE
5.60
5.22
4.80
I % FLOOD LEVEL
2 % FLOOD LEVEL
5 % FLOOD LEVEL
PARR AMATTt
ROAD---'7-l-,',

AND TRIBUTARIES
PLAN OF I%,2%AND 5% DESIGN FLOOD LEVELS
EXHIBIT 23
FLOOD LEVEL DETERMINED BY TIDE LEVEL
MEADOWBANK
RYDE
MAIN NORTHERN
RAILWAY BRIDGE
MELROSE PARK
REFER TO EXHIBITS 21 - I E. 2, 22
FOR FLOOD PROFILES
A.H.D.
2.
ALL LEVELS TO
3.
DRAWING NOT TO SCALE

2 ^S
rf r-^j:-^^-C_
i S 2
L, ..
iec
^St
5c,,//-,,t
.{ Gi
5-1- q-rIPARRAMATT
ROAD
)C(Q.:1 :q- y.l -/- ,

AND TRIBUTARIES
2%AND
5%
DESIGN
FLOOD LEVELS
PLAN OF t%,
EXHIBIT 23
MAIN NORTHERN
RAILWAY BRIDGE
N CATH
ATTA
4A ^.Pl
CA M ELLIA
MAIN `C
WESTERN
RAILWAY
BRIDBE \
17
82 1.5
I
0.2
FLOOD DISTRIBUTION
LEFT BANK
CHANNEL
-RIGHT BANK
-FLOW VELOCITY (m/s)
-FLOW PERCENTAGE
I. REFER TO EXHIBITS 21-I B 21-2 AND 22 FOR FLOOD PROFILE.

?-DRAWING NOT TO SCALE.
Z. FLOW VELOCITIES SHOWN REPRESENT AVERAGE VELOCITI
ACROSS THE CHANNEL AND OVERBANK AREAS.LOCALISED
VELOCITIES AT A PARTICULAR SITE WILL VARY FROM
THE AVERAGE VELOCITY AND WOULD BE INFLUENCED BY
FACTORS SUCH AS CONSTRICTIONS, OBSTRUCTIONS AND
PROXIMITY TO MAIN RIVER FLOW PATH.
O. 5
74 2.3
1 16 O' 6
RRAMATTL1.1
ROAD
4. SECTIONS VIEWED LOOKING DOWNSTREAM.


AND TRIBUTARIES
I%FLOOD DISTRIBUTION
EXHIBIT 24
RYDALMERE
IN NORTHERN
RAILWAY BRIDGE
NORTH
PARRAMATTA
0
100
2.0
0
0.2
NORTH
STRATHFIELD
NOTES
I REFER TO EXHIBITS 21- 1&21-2 AND 22 FOR FLOOD PROFILE.
2 DRAWING NOT TO SCALE.
FLOOD DISTRIBUTION
- LEFT BANK
- CHANNEL
-RIGHT BANK
FLOW VELOCITY (m/s)
FLOW PERCENTAGE
3 FLOW VELOCITIES SHOWN REPRESENT AVERAGE VELOCITIES

05
ACROSS THE CHANNEL AND OVERBANK AREAS . LOCALISED
VELOCITIES AT A PARTICULAR SITE WILL VARY FROM THE
05
RRAMA
AVERAGE VELOCITY AND WOULD BE INFLUNCED BY FACTORS
ROADS -%^^
SUCH AS CONSTRICTIONS , OBSTRUCTIONS AND PROXIMITY
TO THE MAIN RIVER FLOW PATH.
4 SECTIONS VIEWED LOOKING DOWNSTREAM.
AND TRIBUTARIES
2% FLOOD DISTRIBUTI ON
EXHIBIT
RYDALMERE
NORTH
PARRAMATTA
GAD
Y \RLEG
WEIR
CLYDE CARLINGFO
RAILWAY
BRIDGE
CAMELLIA,
RHODES
CONCORD
WEST
MAIN 'C
WESTERN
RAILWAY
BRIDGE \
NOTES
1. REFER TO EXHIBITS 21-I a 21- 2 AND 22 FOR FLOOD PROFILE,
2. DRAWING NOT TO SCALE.
BRIDGE
FLOOD DISTRIBUTION
- LEFT BANK
- CHANNEL
- RIGHT BANK
-FLOW VELOCITY (m/s)
-FLOW PERCENTAGE
05
3.FLOW VELOCITIES SHOWN REPRESENT AVERAGE VELOCITES

81J 2.1
ACROSS THE CHANNEL AND OVERBANK AREAS. LOCALISED
I2 05
VELOCITIES AT A PARTICULAR SITE WILL VARY FROM
THE AVERAGE VELOCITY AND WOULD BE INFLUENCED BY
FACTORS SUCH AS CONSTRICTIONS , OBSTRUCTIONS
AND PROXIMITY
TO THE MAIN RIVER FLOW PATH.
AND TRIBUTARIES
4.SECTIONS VIEWED LOOKING DOWNSTREAM.
5% FLOOD DI EXHIBIT 126

Lower Parramatta River Flood-Study 1986 With Cover

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Lower Parramatta River Flood-Study 1986 With Cover

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LOWER

I INI I INI^INI1NINI1NlI NIil B

PARR AM AT:TA RIVER

Public Works Department

Rivers and Ports Branch

REPORT No PWD 84017

WILLING & PARTNERS PTY LTD.

THE STUDY AREA

Plans and Surveys

HISTORICAL FLOOD RECORDS

Lennox Bridge - 1984

Hydrograph Method - 1984

Model (RSWM - 1984)

PLANS AND SURVEY DATA

DAILY RAINFALLS IN EXCESS"OF 100 mm

FLOOD ESTIMATES DATA

Summary of Historical Floods Identified

1961 Flood at Lennox Bridge

Locality and Urbanisation Maps

Accordingly estimates of the 1%, 2% and 5% probability floods

major flooding on the tributaries would be most likely to

Hydraulic analyses were undertaken for the Lower Parramatta

the unsteady flow model

Duck River, Haslams Creek and Powells Creek, where storage

of all watercourses showing design

Exhibit 24 : Plan of all watercourses showing the 1%

the collection, collation and analysis of historical

hydrologic catchment modelling to estimate flood peaks

determination of the 1%, 2% and 5% probability flood

THE STUDY AREA

Rivers and Main Tributaries

describe the eight major watercourses relevant to the Lower

Lower Parramatta River

The focus of this study is the tide affected section of the

Upper Parramatta River

Upstream from Charles Street Weir, the Parramatta River

Toongabbie Creek and its tributaries drain urban areas

Darling Mills Creek

Development of Darling Mills Creek is limited to the edges of

Vineyard Creek and Subiaco Creek

Vineyard Creek and Subiaco Creek drain undulating to hilly

Duck River and its tributaries , A'Becketts Creek and Duck

Haslams Creek and Powells Creek

These two creeks drain urban areas extending from Lidcombe to

Charles Street Weir

Marsden Street Weir

Parramatta Park - Weir 1

Parramatta Park - Weir 2

Plans and Surveys

levels in this report are expressed in

Historical Rainfall Records

The locations of the daily rainfall and pluviograph stations

Rainfall Intensity-Frequency-Duration Curves

The rainfall intensity-frequency-duration curves derived are

Rainfall Temporal Patterns

Rainfall temporal patterns for historical storms were derived

Streamflow Gauging Stations

1975 Preliminary Report

In 1975 the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC)

The engineering investigations conducted for the 1976 report

In 1978 an inter-departmental committee, comprising the WRC,

Towards the end of 1978, WRC became active in floodplain

Subiaco Creek - Ponds Creek Drainage Study

This study was carried out for Parramatta City Council in