This brochure describes the flood risk and previous flooding in the
Nerang River catchment, last updated in August 2025.
Flood Risk
The Nerang River catchment is located in the southeast corner of Queensland and covers an area of 400 square kilometres. From its headwaters in the McPherson Ranges, the Nerang River flows in a northeasterly direction, through the Numinbah Valley, before entering Hinze Dam where it is joined by the Little Nerang Creek. Downstream from the dam, it passes through Nerang before turning easterly towards the coast and Surfers Paradise and finally entering the Southport Broadwater. Depending on the flood situation, the Hinze Dam (completed in 2011) storage can reduce the severity of downstream flooding, although a re-occurrence of rainfalls similar to, or higher than, those in 1974 would still cause flooding.
Much of the Nerang River catchment is long, narrow, and has steep valley sides, which cause surface water to move rapidly over the land and into the creeks. Floods in the lower reaches can be affected by tidal influences or storm surges from the ocean which enter the Nerang River via the Southport Broadwater.
Both Mudgeeraba Creek and its major tributary Bonogin Creek drain a relatively large catchment extending southwards towards Springbrook and enter the Nerang River only a few kilometres upstream of its mouth. Mudgeeraba Creek is also subject to flash flooding. Tidal impacts and storm surge can affect the bottom end of all three major catchments. Tide dependent rating at Evandale and can be drowned out at 4m.
Previous Flooding
Flood records began in 1920, and there have been several instances of moderate to major flooding in the catchment. Four of these, 1931, 1947, 1954 and 1974, were the result of cyclonic activity. More recently, the Nerang River experienced flooding due to both ex-tropical cyclone Oswald in 2013 and ex-tropical cyclone Debbie in 2017.
At Clearview, the river level reached 5.63 m on 31 March 2017. The highest level on record is 10.22 m in January 1974.
At Evandale, the river level reached 1.52 m on 28 January 2013. The highest level on record is 2.87 m in January 1974.
| Flood Event | Clearview (m) | Evandale (m) |
| June 1967 | 10.18 | - |
| Apr 1972 | 8.36 | - |
| Jan 1974 | 10.22 | 2.87 |
| Feb 1976 | 6.37 | - |
| Jan 2013 | 4.75 | 1.52 |
| March 2017 | 5.62 | - |
| Feb 2022 | 4.9 | 1.57 |
| Mar 2025 | 5.01 | 1.41 |
All heights are in metres on flood gauges.
