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Where is Floodplain Management in Queensland Heading?
13-Apr-2012
Last summer’s flooding in Queensland caused approx. $6.8 billion in damage to the State’s assets and over 90% of the State was disaster-activated. Several of the areas that were hit hard, found themselves yet again at the mercy of floodwaters in early 2012. The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QldRA) was set up in February 2011 to implement and manage a state-wide plan for rebuilding and reconnecting communities affected by both floods and cyclones. There was a recognition that the key to rebuilding the state is by improving resilience and hence minimising the future effects of flooding on communities, the economy and the environment.
QldRA has now produced two documents to raise awareness of floodplain management and how it can be improved, particularly through the land planning process that is often seen as the most effective method of reducing flood risk. Both documents provide a fit for purpose toolkit focussing on the part that land use planning plays in increasing resilience to flooding in the floodplain management process.
BMT WBM has been providing advice and guidance to the QldRA over the past year, particularly with regards to a risk based approach to flood investigations across the state. Adopting a risk based approach can help to support and target land use planning responses and decision making in areas of most need. In addition, BMT WBM has been working with several Queensland councils applying this risk based approach to floodplain management, producing bespoke floodplain management methodologies for both urban and rural environments.
For further information contact:
Jo Tinnion