Cataract flood map & planning overlays
A planning-constraint profile of Cataract (Wollongong, NSW) - 204.35 km², mapped from live council and state overlay data. This suburb is highly constrained.
Everything below is suburb-wide. Overlays change block to block - see which ones actually touch your lot. The map is free.
Constraint readout
204.35 km² - this suburb is highly constrained by planning overlays.
Elevation hillshade with street names, clipped to Cataract's boundary, with the flood, bushfire and environmental overlays drawn on top. It shows where constraints fall; the interactive map shows them on your exact address.
Cataract at a glance
How Cataract is zoned
Buying in Cataract? The zoning, flood and bushfire lines on the section 10.7 certificate attached to the contract are mapped controls - see our s10.7 certificate guide.
Across its 204.35 km², Cataract is highly constrained by planning overlays. Flood mapping covers the suburb and none of it falls within a mapped flood overlay, and 98% is flagged bushfire-prone. There are 9 heritage-listed sites on record, and the dominant land-use zone is Environmental Conservation. The median lot measures about 164,377 m² across 63 parcels. These figures are suburb-wide - the overlays that actually apply to a given lot can differ block to block, which is what a property-level check tells you.
Who lives in Cataract
Census 2021 figures published by the ABS for the Cataract suburb boundary itself, not a wider region.
Population trend, 2001 to 2025
Estimated resident population of Illawarra Catchment Reserve, the wider ABS statistical area containing Cataract. There is no annual population series published at suburb level, so this describes the surrounding area rather than Cataract itself.
13 in 2001 to 5 in 2025, down 62%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) and SEIFA 2021, both published at the Suburbs and Localities level; Regional Population (estimated resident population) at Statistical Area Level 2. Used under CC BY 4.0. Census counts of small populations are randomly adjusted by the ABS to protect confidentiality, so figures for small suburbs are indicative.
Cataract data sources and coverage
Every figure below is an aggregate for the suburb boundary. “Not mapped” means LayeredGeo does not hold a source layer covering this suburb; it is never an all-clear for a particular property.
| Dataset | Coverage | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Flood mapping | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Bushfire-prone mapping | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Zoning | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Heritage and environment | Mapped where published | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Demographics | Available | Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census and SEIFA) |
Profile last materially updated 5 August 2026. See the methodology and full source list. Source data changes over time and critical decisions should be checked with the responsible authority.
Check a specific Cataract address
See exactly which overlays touch a single property - the interactive map is free. Need it on paper? A full planning PDF is just $9.
See what's in the $9 report →Cataract planning - frequently asked
Where can I see a flood map of Cataract?
The schematic on this page is a Cataract flood map: the mapped flood overlays drawn over the suburb's terrain and street grid. Flood lines vary block to block, so for a specific property use the free interactive map - search any Cataract address and it shows the flood, zoning and bushfire mapping on the exact lot boundary.
Is Cataract flood-prone?
Flood mapping covers Cataract and none of the suburb falls within a mapped flood overlay (the council-wide suburb average is 4%). Flood overlays vary block to block, so whether a particular lot is affected needs a property-level check.
Is Cataract bushfire-prone?
Yes - around 98% of Cataract is mapped as bushfire-prone, compared with a Wollongong average of 56%. A bushfire-prone designation can trigger additional building requirements, so check the specific address.
What is the zoning in Cataract?
The dominant planning zone in Cataract is Environmental Conservation, though the suburb also includes Infrastructure and National Parks and Nature Reserves. Zoning sets what you can build and do on a site, and can differ lot by lot.
Does Cataract have heritage-listed places?
Cataract has 9 heritage-listed places on record. Heritage listing affects what you can alter or demolish, so confirm whether a specific property is listed or near a heritage place.
What is the typical lot size in Cataract?
Across 63 surveyed parcels in Cataract, the median lot size is about 164,377 m². There are also 24 registered easements mapped in the suburb - an easement can restrict where you can build, so always check the title and overlays for the specific lot.
Does Cataract have a train station?
There is no train station inside Cataract itself. The suburb is served by 2 bus stops.
Do I need a planning report for a Cataract property?
A Cataract planning report pulls every overlay - zoning, flood, bushfire, heritage and environmental - that touches a single lot, on live council and state data. The interactive map preview is free; a full PDF report is $9.
Compare nearby suburbs
| Nearby suburb | Distance | Flood mapped | Bushfire-prone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulli | 7.9 km | 0% | 64% |
| Cordeaux | 8.4 km | 0% | 97% |
| Russell Vale | 8.4 km | 0% | 39% |
| Thirroul | 8.9 km | 0% | 52% |
| Woonona | 9.0 km | 0% | 41% |
| Tarrawanna | 9.1 km | 0% | 71% |
| Corrimal | 9.3 km | 0% | 39% |
| Balgownie | 9.8 km | 0% | 51% |
| Mount Keira | 10.1 km | 0% | 93% |
| Austinmer | 10.2 km | 0% | 73% |