Flooding front of mind for Maitland residents as feedback shapes draft development controls

Source: Maitland City Council

Maitland City Council has adopted an interim approach to assessing development applications for flood-prone properties until the flooding chapter of the draft Maitland Development Control Plan 2026 (DCP) returns to Council for further consideration.

The interim measure, that was unanimously supported at the 9 December 2025 Council meeting, ensures development assessments are being assessed using the existing provisions of the NSW Flood Risk Management Manual 2023, the Maitland Local Environment Plan 2011 and the Maitland Development Control Plan 2011.

This approach means that all applications within the current flood planning areas are assessed consistently, in accordance with current legislative and policy requirements to ensure Council decisions remain compliant with legislative obligations.

Maitland City Council Director City Planning, Trevor Ryan says “the intent of the interim measure is to provide clarity and transparency to applicants in flood planning areas for development applications that are currently in our system as well as future applications that Council receives during the interim period.”

The move comes after insights gathered from the community on the draft DCP, publicly exhibited for 10 weeks from May to August 2025, showed more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of submissions were focused on proposed flooding controls across the local government area.

Feedback received from respondents during the community consultation period cited significant concerns, including limiting the development potential and economic activity of Maitland’s central business district, as well as, more broadly, the perceived impact of the proposed controls on insurance premiums and home values.

“This feedback highlights the importance of Council taking an evidence-based, more holistic and long-term approach to flood risk management.” said Mr Ryan.

“Access to more current flooding data will improve our ability to assess development applications on flood-affected land in line with legislative requirements.

"Council continues to review and address all other submissions received from the exhibition of the draft DCP, and it's anticipated that the updated draft DCP, excluding the flooding chapter, will be put forward to Council by April 2026 for Council’s consideration.”

A floodplain risk management study (FRMS) and plan for the Maitland local government area is being developed and will be placed on public exhibition for community comment later in 2026. The FRMS will provide a comprehensive and evidence-based framework for planning controls and will be used to inform the flooding chapter of a Maitland Development Control Plan before it returns to Council for further consideration.

More information on Maitland City Council’s review into its 2011 Development Control Plan can be found by visiting mait.city/DCP