SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 62·6.119
Development in proximity to reservoirs and flood risk
Water impounding structures such as reservoirs present flood risk due to potential failure, overtopping, or controlled water release, creating potential for rapid downstream inundation with short response times.
Water impounding structures such as reservoirs are a recognised source of flood risk because of the potential for downstream flooding which may ensue if the structure fails, is overtopped, or in the event of a controlled release of water from the reservoir as part of the normal management regime. In any of these circumstances there is potential for rapid inundation of downstream areas and response times to flooding are likely to be short.
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