Our team specializes in a diverse range of coastal processes and hazard studies, encompassing waves, currents, storm surges, erosion, and tsunami modeling. We leverage a combination of internal analysis tools, bespoke coding, and specialized software to conduct hydraulic, hydrologic, and flood modeling. This includes wave models such as SWAN, M21 SW, and M21 BW; tidal and hydrodynamic models like Delft3D and MIKE21; sediment transport tools such as XBeach, Delft3D, and UNIBEST; wave overtopping models utilizing Neural Network approaches; hydrologic models including RORB, URBS, WBNM, and RAFTS; and inundation models like HEC, Tuflow, and MIKE.

Our workflows integrate these tools as standalone or coupled models and can be embedded within real-time disaster forecasting systems using platforms like Delft-FEWS. This allows us to deliver comprehensive and adaptive solutions for risk mitigation and disaster preparedness.

The animation below highlights our initial analysis of the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami, showcasing its propagation across the Pacific Ocean and demonstrating the utility of our integrated modeling approach in understanding and forecasting such complex events.

Bellingen Shire Council has taken a proactive step in flood risk management by obtaining access to our highly detailed 5m Flood Map of Australia. This high-resolution data provides valuable insights to support strategic decision-making, helping the Council identify flood-prone areas and prioritise planning efforts.
While not a replacement for detailed modelling assessments, the 5m flood maps offer a cost-effective and efficient way to gain a broad understanding of flood risk across the region. By integrating this data into their planning processes, Bellingen Shire Council can make informed decisions that enhance community resilience and support sustainable development.
This collaboration reflects the Council’s commitment to protecting its communities and environment while embracing innovative tools to guide future planning.

JB Pacific successfully delivered the Coastal Management Program Stage 2 (CMP2) study for the MidCoast region, focusing on tidal inundation risks and long-term resilience planning. This project highlighted our expertise in integrating advanced data analysis, community-focused engagement, and actionable coastal management solutions tailored to the unique needs of local councils and their communities.
The study addressed tidal inundation impacts across diverse coastal and estuarine environments, combining detailed hydrodynamic modelling with high-resolution spatial data. These efforts enabled the identification of vulnerable areas and informed the prioritisation of mitigation measures to reduce risks to properties, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Our innovative approach, adopting a simulation library, incorporated the latest climate change projections to future-proof decision-making, ensuring that MidCoast Council has the tools to manage evolving coastal hazards effectively.
By collaborating closely with council stakeholders and integrating input from public consultations, we set the foundations for the development of a successful Coastal Management Program. Our work ensures MidCoast Council is equipped with the knowledge and strategic direction needed to address tidal inundation risks while balancing environmental sustainability and community resilience. This study highlights JB Pacific’s commitment to providing innovative and locally relevant solutions for coastal management challenges, empowering regions to adapt to the complexities of a changing climate.

Between February and March 2022, the Northern NSW region experienced extreme flooding. On the 27 and 28 February, a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea merged with a slow-moving trough and upper atmospheric conditions to produce extreme multi-day rainfall. The catchments of the northern rivers already had wet soils, full rivers and water storages from prolonged La Niña conditions, which resulted in high runoff rates flowing into the Tweed River, Brunswick River, Wilsons River, Richmond River and Clarence River. The resulting inundation was extreme, and exceeded records in several areas such as Lismore, where river levels exceeded the March 1974 highest peak on record.

Our team analysed the flooding for the NSW state government (then-Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation) over seven local government areas; Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Lismore Shire, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley Council. We developed a flood event footprint for the 2022 flood event using gauged data, site specific flood studies, and post-event survey data. We found the flood event spanned 250,000 ha, with over 44,000 buildings and 84,000 people estimated to be inundated by the event.

New South Wales (NSW) Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – Crown lands and Public Spaces (NSW Crown Lands) manages a significant area of the NSW coast, including beaches, commercial areas, roads and estuary foreshores. Social, environmental, economic and cultural services are associated with the managed land, creating challenges exacerbated by dynamic coastal processes, coastal hazards and climate change.

JB Pacific completed a coastal hazard exposure analysis for various assets managed by NSW Crown lands across the state. This large-scale analysis utilised a range of coastal hazard data, including coastal erosion and tidal inundation, to improve the understanding of present and future exposure of Crown land. As part of the analysis, assets were categorised into whether they are directly managed by the Minister, by Councils or other entities. Crown land Parcels, buildings on managed Crown land, Crown roads, NSW points of interest (POI) on managed Crown land, and Crown leases were assessed.

The Moonee catchment is located 13km north of Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast, NSW. The previous flood study for the area was conducted 25 years prior and there had been several major changes to infrastructure, land zoning and management since it was published.

JB Pacific developed a new hydrologic and hydrodynamic flood model for the Creek system to improve the understanding of flood behaviour and impacts, and better inform the management of flood risk in the community. It uses a calibrated hydrologic (URBS) and hydraulic (TUFLOW) model, with new flood mapping for events ranging between 1-in-5 to 1-in-500 year return period, plus the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). Model outputs included maps of flood velocity, depth, level, extent and information to support emergency management and land-use planning.

The Byron Shire Council commissioned JB Pacific to undertake a comprehensive assessment and review flood trigger levels and flood warning classifications for the Byron Shire flood warning gauge network. The pilot study involved a comprehensive assessment of five gauges, which utilised diverse data sources such as historic data, hydraulic modelling and LiDAR imagery.

The findings resulted in three distinct trigger levels (Low, Medium, High) and flood classifications (Minor, Moderate, Major) suggested for each gauge. The study involved creating a methodology to produce new trigger levels and flood warning classifications, which incorporated analyses of historic flood levels and a GIS based assessment of inundation to identify critical points for assets and infrastructure. The refined classifications offered a nuanced understanding of potential flooding scenarios, which provided decision-makers and communities with essential tools for proactive flood preparedness and response

The Byron Shire has recently experienced widespread flooding, in particular the north Byron villages of New Brighton, Billinudgel, Ocean Shores and South Golden Beach. Byron Shire Council engaged JB Pacific to review previous flood studies, flood risk management plans, estuary and coastal studies and all the flood management options to consider their merit in providing flood mitigation to the local communities.

Our review identified several different mitigation options that have previously been overlooked based on the historic understanding of flood risk, but may now be suitable for review given the recent 2022 flood damages. This review has been undertaken in conjunction with Community and Stakeholder meetings, and workshops with Council planners and engineers. Possible flood risk mitigation measures include levees, dune openings, stormwater drainage upgrades and channel diversions, voluntary resumptions, planning scheme amendments and flood planning levels, to forecasting, flood warning and community education programs.

The City of Armidale is located on the Dumaresq Creek floodplain. It has unique hydrologic characteristics, further influenced by the upstream dam and variable rainfall patterns and soil infiltration rates. Armidale Regional Council has moved towards a Flood Early Warning System to enhance their knowledge of upcoming flood events, road closures and to help community preparedness.

JB Pacific developed an Early Warning System to predict road closures through the main city, with thresholds optimised using historic data and relationships between forecast rainfall, catchment conditions, available lead time, and the local dam. The system uses the Delft-FEWS back-end forecasting engine, connected to the Weather Foresight portal for Council and SES users to view real-time and predicted flood information

The Liverpool Plains Shire is located in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales. Several of its towns are located adjacent to watercourses, with infrastructure located within the floodplain. This includes Quirindi (Quirindi Creek), Willow tree (Borambil Creek) and Wallabadah (Quirindi Creek and Water Gully).

JB Pacific provided LGA-wide flood mapping to the Council, as a part of our Australian Flood Map. This includes six flood depth maps for the 1-in-20 to 1-in-1500-year return periods, from pluvial (rainfall) and fluvial (riverine) sources.