Planning for change: Tidal inundation in the Tweed

Tweed Shire Council is taking a proactive approach to protecting our coastal areas and communities. We’re using the latest research and data to better understand and plan for the impacts of coastal hazards, including tidal inundation — the flooding of low‑lying land during high tides as sea levels rise.

As part of this work, we plan on integrating tidal inundation risk into Council’s land use planning tools so future development can respond to changing conditions.

Why are we doing this?

Under the Coastal Management Act 2016, Council must assess coastal hazards and prepare Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) that set a long‑term plan for managing the coastal zone. CMPs can recommend changes to zoning, policies and development controls.

Council’s CMPs (Tweed River Estuary – 2018, and Coast and Estuaries – currently underway) have assessed the likely impacts of tidal inundation on low‑lying land as sea levels rise. These programs include actions to inform the community and update Council’s land use planning framework to plan for this hazard.

Preparing early helps us make informed decisions about development, infrastructure and coastal management to reduce future risks and improve resilience.

Project stages

Over the coming months, this Your Say Tweed Project page will host information, discussion and question boards, project updates and key dates for engagement with staff regarding the Coastal Risk Planning Update project (The Project). The Project will involve a gradual rollout of fact sheets with opportunities to meet with staff over three key stages:

Tidal inundation versus catchment flooding - what's the difference?

Tidal inundation is different to the catchment flooding which we often experience in the Tweed. Find out more below:

Tidal inundation
Catchment flooding
  • 🌊 The ocean causes tidal inundation.
  • 🌧️ Rain causes catchment flooding.
  • Not catastrophic or dangerous in short timeframes
  • Catchment flooding can be dangerous in short timeframes.
  • Slow-moving water (speed of the tide) and depth dependent on sea and land level. Slow, gradual damages (e.g. rust).
  • Fast-moving deep water that often arrives quickly and can damage roads, bridges and property.
  • Tidal inundation is not yet a severe hazard in Tweed.
    However, sea level rise predictions for the next 100 years suggest that much of Tweed Shire's low-lying areas could be affected.
  • Catchment flooding has always been the primary flood threat in Tweed.


How you can get involved

This platform is the place to learn about tidal inundation, understand how it may affect parts of the Tweed, and have your say.

Here, you can:

  • follow the project as it progresses
  • read updates and fact sheets
  • ask questions and join the discussion
  • review and comment on the future Planning Proposal.

Check the Documents tab for fact sheets, submit a question or share your thoughts in the discussion board below.


Tweed Shire Council is taking a proactive approach to protecting our coastal areas and communities. We’re using the latest research and data to better understand and plan for the impacts of coastal hazards, including tidal inundation — the flooding of low‑lying land during high tides as sea levels rise.

As part of this work, we plan on integrating tidal inundation risk into Council’s land use planning tools so future development can respond to changing conditions.

Why are we doing this?

Under the Coastal Management Act 2016, Council must assess coastal hazards and prepare Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) that set a long‑term plan for managing the coastal zone. CMPs can recommend changes to zoning, policies and development controls.

Council’s CMPs (Tweed River Estuary – 2018, and Coast and Estuaries – currently underway) have assessed the likely impacts of tidal inundation on low‑lying land as sea levels rise. These programs include actions to inform the community and update Council’s land use planning framework to plan for this hazard.

Preparing early helps us make informed decisions about development, infrastructure and coastal management to reduce future risks and improve resilience.

Project stages

Over the coming months, this Your Say Tweed Project page will host information, discussion and question boards, project updates and key dates for engagement with staff regarding the Coastal Risk Planning Update project (The Project). The Project will involve a gradual rollout of fact sheets with opportunities to meet with staff over three key stages:

Tidal inundation versus catchment flooding - what's the difference?

Tidal inundation is different to the catchment flooding which we often experience in the Tweed. Find out more below:

Tidal inundation
Catchment flooding
  • 🌊 The ocean causes tidal inundation.
  • 🌧️ Rain causes catchment flooding.
  • Not catastrophic or dangerous in short timeframes
  • Catchment flooding can be dangerous in short timeframes.
  • Slow-moving water (speed of the tide) and depth dependent on sea and land level. Slow, gradual damages (e.g. rust).
  • Fast-moving deep water that often arrives quickly and can damage roads, bridges and property.
  • Tidal inundation is not yet a severe hazard in Tweed.
    However, sea level rise predictions for the next 100 years suggest that much of Tweed Shire's low-lying areas could be affected.
  • Catchment flooding has always been the primary flood threat in Tweed.


How you can get involved

This platform is the place to learn about tidal inundation, understand how it may affect parts of the Tweed, and have your say.

Here, you can:

  • follow the project as it progresses
  • read updates and fact sheets
  • ask questions and join the discussion
  • review and comment on the future Planning Proposal.

Check the Documents tab for fact sheets, submit a question or share your thoughts in the discussion board below.


Submit a question

Ask a question about the project here. 

Please note: the question board is only for seeking clarification on the issues considered in this project. For sharing ideas, concerns or opinions on this project, please visit the discussion forum.

You need to be signed in to add your question.

  • Has attention been focussed on insurance ramifications of inundation maps? Is there appropriate language to indicate that these maps are speculative and as such not a definitive map of where this occurs?

    LisaX asked 5 days ago

    Hi LisaX,

    Thanks for your question.

    Council is required by legislation to share information about natural hazards once they are identified. Like all hazard mapping (e.g. erosion, bushfire, flood), tidal inundation maps are indicative only and reflect modelling based on available data; they are not a definitive prediction of exactly where and when the hazard will occur.

    Council cannot provide advice on insurance impacts. For guidance on how insurers may interpret this information, please contact your insurer or the Insurance Council of Australia.

  • Where is the discussion section?

    fieldy asked 5 days ago

    Hi Fieldy, 

    You can find the Discussion Forum button next to the Questions button the Your Say Tweed Page. Or you can click here for a shortcut: Discussion Forum | Planning for change: Tidal inundation in the Tweed | Your Say Tweed  

Page last updated: 01 Apr 2026, 11:46 AM