Merri-bek flood mapping

We’re updating stormwater flood maps for Melbourne Water’s drainage area to better identify locations at risk of flooding. To confirm our maps are accurate, we’re seeking your knowledge of past flooding and changes to the built environment – like fences, landscaping and other works that may affect stormwater flows.

Note: This current consultation only relates to Melbourne Water’s regional drainage area. Merri-bek also has smaller, local drainage areas which are managed by the council. Merri-bek City Council has completed community engagement on their local drainage area.

In addition to our stormwater maps, we’ll be updating other flood maps in your area to reflect other sources of flooding. The information our maps provide will be used to plan for infrastructure, housing and emergencies.

Updated	Stormwater drains Seeking input – view map below
Underway	Moonee Ponds Creek
Underway	Merri Creek (Lower)

This work is part of the Greater Melbourne Flood Information Program.

View draft updated flood mapping

For help understanding our flood information and what it means for you, speak to an expert at one of our community events.

These maps do not show all flooding in the area, and are not to be used for official planning or development purposes.
To view local drainage areas affected by stormwater flooding, refer to Merri-bek City Council's stormwater flood map.
To receive emails as updated information is released, select the ‘follow’ button at the top of this page.

Please note these maps are best viewed on a computer. If you are experiencing issues on a mobile device, try refreshing your browser.

Explainer video

Watch the following video for an introduction to using our flood maps, and the information they show. Please note this video shows an example map for instructional purposes only, and does not display the actual map data for Merri-bek.

Our current consultation in this area is only for Melbourne Water’s regional drains. That’s why unlike the explainer video, the map on this webpage does not display stormwater flooding from local drains managed by the council. For local flood information, visit Merri-bek City Council’s website.

Video transcript - Greater Melbourne Flood Information Program explainer video (PDF, 74KB)

Instructions

Exploring the map

Move around the map by:

left-clicking and dragging (computer)
using two fingers to drag (phone and tablet).

Zoom into an area by:

double-clicking or using your mouse scroll wheel (computer)
pinching and zooming (phone and tablet)
using the + and – buttons at the top left of the map.

Reset the map by selecting the house icon at the top left.

Displaying property flood level information

Type an address into the search bar at the top of the map.
Press Enter or the magnifying glass icon , or select an address that from the drop-down menu. The map will zoom in to the specified address.
Select any flood-impacted property (outlined in black) to view flood level data for the land parcel.

Showing or hiding information layers

The map contains several layers of information: flood-impacted properties, flood hazard ratings, and stormwater flooding.

To turn these layers on or off:

First, display the layers panel by selecting the layer button .
Select or deselect the checkbox next to the layer name you want to show or hide.
To expand or collapse the legend for a particular layer, select the legend button .

Switching to satellite view

To change the default map from street view to satellite view:

Open the basemap panel by selecting the basemap button .
Select which map you want to use: Streets (default) or Aerial (satellite photography).

Current flooding

The current flood scenario reflects our best understanding of a flood which currently has a 1% chance of occurring in any year (the current 1% Annual Exceedance Probability). This information will be used to understand current flood risks and update VICSES Local Flood Guides and Municipal Flood Emergency Plans.

Open map in new window

Year 2100 flooding

The Year 2100 flood scenario predicts the impact of future flooding, accounting for climate change. It is provided for a flood in the year 2100 with a 1% chance of occurring in any year (1% Annual Exceedance Probability). This information will be used to guide long-term planning, including council planning regulations on land use (e.g. property development and renovations).

Open map in new window

Understanding the map

Property vs. parcel information

Flood hazard classifications

Differences to council flood maps

Roads and their role in drainage

Stormwater flooding and waterways

Differences to existing planning controls (overlays)

Property vs. parcel information

We use parcels for our flood maps because they are the official units of land in planning and land records.

This helps us apply flood mapping data consistently, as one parcel may contain:

no properties (vacant land)
one property
multiple properties (e.g. a unit in an apartment building that sits on a single parcel of land).

The terms ‘property parcels’ (or ‘land parcels’) and ‘properties’ are often used interchangeably, but refer to slightly different concepts.

Term	Definition	Key uses
Parcel	A legally-defined piece of land, identified by lot number or parcel ID in the land registry or cadastre	Planning, zoning, land registry
Property	A physical asset (i.e. building), assigned a postal address based on street frontage and building entraces	Real estate, postal services

Flood hazard classifications

Flood hazard classifications indicate the behaviour of a flood and how dangerous it might be to people, vehicles and buildings. This helps authorities and locals make decisions about safety, planning and development.

Classifications range from H1 (least hazardous) to H6 (most hazardous), based on factors like floodwater depth, speed and spread.

Classification	Characteristics
Hazard 1	Flooding is this area is usually minimal and tends to affect roads, gardens and other low-lying areas. Floodwater is typically shallow – up to 300mm deep – and unlikely to cause much damage or pose a safety risk. Because of this, the flood hazard is considered low, and the area is generally safe for people, vehicles and buildings. Most types of development, including new homes and subdivisions – are suitable here with suitable design considerations. However, essential community services like hospitals may need extra consideration before being built in these locations.
Hazard 2	Flooding in this area can reach depths of up to 0.5 metres, which may pose a risk to small vehicles. While the floodwater is generally safe for able-bodied people, it can still be unpredictable and should be treated with caution. This is why the area is considered to have a medium flood hazard. New commercial and industrial buildings are usually suitable in these areas, but some housing may not be safe even if designed with flood protection in mind – like raised floor levels and safe access. These areas are not appropriate for increasing housing densities without appropriate flood protection measures. Thoughtful planning and design help make sure new development is safe and suitable for the area.
Hazard 3	Flooding in this area can reach depths of up to 1.2 metres. The water flow may be strong and could pose a risk – especially to children, older residents, and those needing extra support. Because of these conditions, the area is classed as a medium flood hazard. Building or renovating here requires careful planning. Land may still be able to develop but needs to be located/sited to avoid areas of higher hazard and designed with flood protection in mind. New buildings or subdivisions are discouraged without appropriate flood protection measures.
Hazard 4	Floodwaters in this area can be fast-moving and deep, with depths of up to 2 metres. These conditions make the area unsuitable for people and vehicles during flood events. Because of the high flood hazard, any new use of the land should be carefully considered, and dense development is not recommended. New buildings or subdivisions are discouraged. Areas such as parks or public open spaces are suitable.
Hazard 5	Floodwaters in this area can be very deep up to 4.0 metres – and may damage or destroy most types of buildings. Because of this, it is not a safe location for development. These areas are important for natural flood flow and flood storage, which help protect other parts of the community. The flood hazard is high and no intensification of land use or new buildings should occur. Prioritise the safety of the community and protect the environment.
Hazard 6	Flooding in this area can exceed 4.0 metres in depth, making it unsuitable for any buildings or development and makes the flood hazard in this zone high. These areas are critical for flood management and should remain untouched. Let the land perform its natural flood-control role. Prioritise the safety of the community and protect the environment.

Differences to council flood maps

Councils manage local drainage assets, like street gutters and drains, while Melbourne Water manages larger regional drainage assets.

That’s why Merri-bek City Council’s stormwater flood map shows flooding in their local drainage area, whereas the map on this webpage shows flooding from Melbourne Water’s regional drainage area.

Flood maps can also differ due to the different approaches used when generating them.

For example, the maps can show very small amounts of water – like tiny puddles – that don’t pose a real hazard in real life. These are filtered out to remove technical ‘noise’, so the maps focus on areas where flooding could actually cause problems during a major storm.

To do this Melbourne Water applies a set of criteria, which may differ to what councils use.

For our flood maps, we’ve excluded:

water less than 5cm deep
puddles smaller than 100 square metres.

If you’re curious about how your council defines flood risk or manages flood resilience in your area, it’s best to contact them directly.

Roads and their role in drainage

Roads help manage stormwater by guiding it safely through urban areas, away from homes and buildings. This reduces the chance of flooding in places that aren’t designed to handle large volumes of water.

Roads are typically lower than surrounding land and gently sloped, so water naturally runs across them. Their hard surface (e.g. asphalt) also helps move water quickly, while gutters and kerbs channel flows in the right direction.

Some roads are designed to carry extra water during heavy rain, when underground drains reach their capacity. These roads are called overland flow paths. They may have a higher flood hazard classification due to the potential for fast-moving water, which can be dangerous for vehicles and pedestrians.

When flooding makes roads unsafe, road operators or emergency responders may close them or redirect traffic. This is done to protect people from fast-moving water until conditions improve.

Stormwater flooding and waterways

Some flood-affected areas on the map may be considered waterways by the local community.

This is because some small sections of Melbourne Water’s drainage system include minor waterways.

For the purpose of flood mapping our drainage system, these areas are shown on the map as stormwater flooding.

Differences to existing planning controls (overlays)

The Special Building Overlay (SBO) in current planning schemes is based on our earlier flood mapping.

We’re now using advanced flood modelling and better data for a more accurate picture of how stormwater moves through the area. These improvements mean the updated maps may identify new or different areas to be at risk of flooding.

Once we’ve reviewed community feedback and finalised our flood maps, we’ll work with government to introduce new flood overlays into planning schemes. The timing and details of this process are still being worked through.

Visit the Department of Transport and Planning website for more information on updating maps and planning and building controls to better manage flood risk.

Learn more about flood risk

Impacts on your property

Our flood maps contain updated information for the area, which will inform risks to individual properties. This information is currently in draft form, and is not to be used for official planning or development purposes.

The draft flood levels provided refer to the maximum height of floodwaters, measured in metres above Australian Height Datum (sea level). AHD is Australia’s national standard for measuring elevation, and helps ensure flood information is consistent and reliable across different locations.

Even if the flood map shows your property is affected by flooding, the impact on buildings can vary. This depends on:

floodwater height – which can differ greatly across a parcel of land, and thus between the buildings on it
how far a building’s floor is from the ground.

To find out your property’s floor level you can engage a licensed surveyor. They can also tell you if any buildings or structures are below the draft flood levels that we’ve provided.

If you need flood level information for planning or building purposes, contact Melbourne Water.

To learn more about these concepts, watch our explainer video:

Video transcript - Understanding flood maps (PDF, 68KB)

We are not best placed to comment on property values or insurance premiums, as they are influenced by many factors.

Flood maps are tools for understanding the flood risk that exists – they don’t create more risk. We’re releasing this information to help plan for the future and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

These impacts are global issues that the insurance industry has been dealing with, and just one of many factors they consider when setting their premiums. We recommend contacting your insurer directly to understand your specific situation.

While flood risk is a factor in relation to property prices, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Property values are influenced more by:

Location and proximity to schools, parks, and shops
Demand in the area – many high-value suburbs in Melbourne are also flood-prone
Long-term trends – property prices often recover after short-term dips due to flooding

For more information, watch the following video our download our fact sheet: What does flood hazard mean for my property and premiums? (PDF, 1.4MB)

Video transcript - Addressing community concerns about flood hazard (PDF, 70KB)

The information in our flood maps is currently in draft form. It is not to be used for official planning or development purposes.

Once the updated maps are finalised and published, the year 2100 flood levels will be used for planning and building decisions in areas with existing planning and building controls (e.g. overlays).

Planning Scheme Amendments to introduce new flood overlays will be pursued separately.

We will assess planning permit and building referrals based on the flood level applicable at the time of the referral. Existing approvals will not be retrospectively impacted by the updated flood information.

However, any new or amended applications – including building permits – will be assessed against the updated flood level information, once finalised.

To understand the impacts on your renovation or development plans, refer to our flooding information and advice.

You can also download our fact sheets:

Understanding your flood risk helps us all build a safe and resilient city that’s better prepared for flooding: today and in the future. 

You don’t have to wait for new flood information to find out how to prepare for a flood. It’s important for everyone to be prepared, no matter where you live or if you’ve been impacted by floods before.

The VICSES website has actions you can take to prepare for a flood.  
Our planning and building information has guidance if you’re renovating or redeveloping property in a flood-affected area.

Community events

Learn more about our updated flood maps and what they mean for you. Join our webinar to hear from our experts, or talk to them in person at an information session.

Tuesday 28 October 2025, 6pm to 7pm

Flood mapping webinar

Hosted online via Microsoft Teams

Monday 17 November 2025, 4pm to 7pm

Information session #1

Glenroy Senior Citizens Centre, 11 Cromwell Street, Glenroy

The session provides general information, but we encourage you to book an appointment to discuss your individual circumstances with one of our experts.

Book online

Saturday 29 November 2025, 10am to 12.30pm

Information session #2

Richard Lynch Senior Citizens Centre, 27 Peacock Street, Brunswick West

The session provides general information, but we encourage you to book an appointment to discuss your individual circumstances with one of our experts.

Book online

Contact us

Contact Melbourne Water with questions about this program.

Contact Melbourne Water

View draft updated flood mapping

How to use the map

Explainer video

Instructions

Exploring the map

Displaying property flood level information

Showing or hiding information layers

Switching to satellite view

Current flooding

Year 2100 flooding

Learn more about flood risk

Impacts on your property

Understanding your flood level

Insurance premiums and property values

Building and renovations

Preparing your home for a flood

Community events

Tuesday 28 October 2025, 6pm to 7pm

Monday 17 November 2025, 4pm to 7pm

Saturday 29 November 2025, 10am to 12.30pm

Contact us

Related links

Local information

Real-time flood alerts

VICSES flood guides

Council stormwater map

Melbourne Water drainage projects

Flooding and drainage

Prepare for flooding

Greater Melbourne Flood Information Program

Flooding and drainage

Property flood information and advice

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