Port Stephens Council in NSW says its new floodplain policy and mapping should help reduce unnecessarily high flood insurance premiums paid by some residents.

Assets Section Manager John Maretich says the new maps will “aid discussions between residents and their insurance companies and at least some of their insurance premiums are likely to drop”.

The draft floodplain risk management policy and flood hazard maps will be available for public appraisal until late January.

Mr Maretich says the floodplain policy will help the council be “pragmatic” regarding planning decisions on flood-prone land. “The flood hazard maps have been compiled from council’s various flood studies and present a visual representation of the technical information to help current and future residents understand the risk of living on a floodplain,” he said.

He says the policy and maps will ensure emergency services have the most up-to-date flood information to plan their response and recovery.

The council is based in Raymond Terrace and covers an area just north of Newcastle.