Our stormwater network
We are responsible for approximately 92 kilometres of stormwater culverts, pipes and open channels, two detention basins, a number of stormwater treatment devices, floating booms and tidal gates throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock local government areas.
Generally, we own the large, concrete stormwater drains while the relevant Councils own and are responsible for the smaller drains and more natural channels.
Our stormwater drainage system is a separate system to our wastewater system that collects household waste from toilets, baths, washing machines and the kitchen, and delivers it to a wastewater treatment works. The stormwater system is not treated like wastewater however we and the relevant Councils have a number of stormwater treatment devices in place to keep stormwater clean.
While we are responsible to provide, operate, manage and maintain our stormwater network, we are not responsible for upgrading or improving the system for flooding. Local Councils are responsible for flood prevention, protection and mitigation services.
Stormwater catchments
The majority of our stormwater network is located within the Newcastle area with approximately 80 kilometres in the catchments of Throsby, Cottage, Dark and Ironbark Creeks. In the Lake Macquarie area approximately 4.5 kilometres is in the Winding Creek catchment through Cardiff and in Cessnock approximately 10.3 kilometres is in the Black Creek catchment through the centre of Cessnock.
All customers within the catchments that drain to our stormwater network are charged a drainage charge on their bill.
Our stormwater network locations
Newcastle
The majority of our stormwater network is located within the Newcastle area (approximately 80km) in the major urban catchments of Throsby Creek and Cottage Creek, with some infrastructure in the Dark Creek and Ironbark Creek sub-catchments.
This system consists of open concrete channels, underground culverts and pipes and some small sections of rock-lined channels. There is also a number of stormwater treatment devices, three floating booms and four tidal gates within this catchment.
Lake Macquarie
In Lake Macquarie, our stormwater assets are centred in the Winding Creek Catchment, with approximately four kilometres of open concrete channels and culverts, a 495m unlined channel and two stormwater detention basins constructed to reduce the impact of flooding in the central business district of Cardiff.
We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lake Macquarie City Council which defines each organisations responsibilities with regard to stormwater management in the Winding Creek Catchment.
Cessnock
In Cessnock, our stormwater assets include approximately 10.3km of open concrete channels and box culverts through the urbanised sections of Black Creek and its tributaries: Aberdare Creek, Bellbird Creek, Kearsley Creek and Lavender Creek.
Our assets are confined to the Cessnock township, with no stormwater management responsibility existing in other population centres within the Cessnock Council area.
We have a Memorandum of Understanding with Cessnock City Council which defines each organisations responsibilities with regard to stormwater management in the Black Creek Catchment.
Throsby Creek Government Agencies Committee
We are working together to further improve the environment of the Throsby Creek waterway and its surrounds and the amenity of the area for residents, visitors and commercial users.