FLOODPLAIN

VOL 3 No. 6

MANAGER DECEMBER 2007

CONNECTING AND INFORMING AUSTRALIAN FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS

INSIDE FEDS FORGET Editorial 2 The recent Federal election has delivered a new cabinet and 2008 FMA Conference 2 new departments but it appears that floods and the Natural Court Rules on Flooding 3 Disaster Mitigation Program have fallen through the cracks. Plans for Vans 4 What was formerly the Federal Department of Transport and New Research Centre 4 Regional Services is now the Department of Infrastructure, Exceptional Delays 5 Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Victorian Strategy 5 Anthony Albanese is its new minister. Vic Flood Database Updated 5 Prior to the Federal election, Mr Albanese, as the Opposition Natural Hazards in 5 Spokesperson on water, was unable to provide a policy Floods and Building Design 6 statement in relation to floodplain management funding or a Floods and Schools 6 meaningful response to inquiries from the Floodplain Natural Hazards on Line 6 Management Authorities ( FM Oct 2007 ). However, he did Maitland FloodSafe 7 promise the FMA executive that if flooding was within his portfolio in a Labor government, he would be interested to Gippsland Floods 7 meet with them to discuss policy issues. Flooded Cars Flood Market 8 New Property Risk Product 9 The FMA Chairman, Alan Ezzy, told Floodplain Manager that Yallourn Mine Floods 9 the FMA wrote to Mr Albanese the Tuesday after the election but by mid December, had received no response. FMA NFRAG Commissions Review 9 telephone inquiries were directed to the Minister for Water and Consistent Flood Insurance 9 others before being directed back to Mr Albanese. Floods Kill The Radio Stars 10 Seasonal Outlook 11 Albanese’s office told Floodplain Manager that the Attorney General was now responsible for the NDMP but direct International Floods 12 inquiries about NDMP were responded to by the new department which reports to Albanese. SUBSCRIBE Floodplain Manager is News regarding the NDMP is not good. Although 2007/08 distributed to subscribers. Six grants for four states have been decided ( FM Oct 2007 ), there editions are published each year. is no news about the others and no grant information has been The annual subscription fee is $99 published. It is not possible to tell how flood-related projects including GST. Back issues are have fared in the process. available. Normally applications for NDMP funding would open in Subscription, inquiries should be December and close in February but there is currently no directed to Molino Stewart NDMP proposed for 2008/09. A review of the program which was scheduled for 2007 ( FM Dec 2006 ) was postponed to 2008 P: 02 9354 0300 but with a new government in place no one knows when it will E: [email protected] take place, if at all. W: www.molinostewart.com.au ISSN 1832-4541 Copyright © Molino Stewart Pty Ltd 2007. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher. Permission inquiries should be emailed to [email protected] FLOODPLAIN MANAGER page 2 December 2007

EDITORIAL 2008 FMA CONFERENCE The new Federal Government has Preparations are progressing well for the 2008 FMA hit the ground running on climate Conference to be held at the Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong change but one of the most from 26 th to 29 th February, 2008. significant physical impacts of climate change, flooding, does not There will be 30 papers presented by leaders in the fields of yet appear to be on the flood hazard, planning in flood prone areas, emergency Government’s agenda. In fact, it management, flood education, climate change and working can’t seem to work out whose with the community. responsibility it should be. This conference will include three technical tours and A landmark court decision in participants can chose from: NSW, however, may set a precedent throughout the country  Inspection of sites affected by the destructive August 1998 in how climate change induced floods flooding is considered in the development approval process  Inspection of West Dapto future urban release area and and push the traditional flood risk areas affected by the record breaking 1984 storm assessment boundaries.  Inspection of SES Headquarters and Lake Illawarra The floods in the Hunter and Entrance Improvement Works. NSW Central Coast in June may also push some other boundaries. The two key note speakers will be Marshall Frech and Al They are now reportedly the third Goodman from the United States. most expensive natural disaster in Australia after Cyclone Tracey Marshall is a journalist and the Director of the Flood Safety and the Newcastle earthquake. Project. He produced the Emmy nominated documentaries Interestingly, those two events led "Flash Flood Alley" and "The Water's Edge" which aired on to the review of building U.S. public television and has created the FloodSafety.com standards in Australia for those website. two natural hazards. Will the recent floods precipitate a long Al is a member of the Mississippi Emergency Management overdue inclusion of flood Agency (MEMA) and has served as the National Flood resistivity into the Building Code Insurance Program (NFIP) State Coordinator. Since beginning of Australia? We can at least work at the NFIP, he has developed 14 Presidential Disaster report that the Australian Building Declarations , nine State Declared Disasters, and 22 States of Codes Board is looking into it. Emergency. He is now Director of the Floodplain Management Bureau within MEMA and has developed and delivered There also is good news from courses at the National Emergency Training Center. ICA on the insurance front. But don’t hold your breath. The The conference will be preceded by two professional ’s seasonal development workshops: outlook suggests that we may be  in for some more floods before ‘Practical Consideration of Climate Change’ there are significant policy shifts  ‘Effective Consideration of Flood Risk Management in which will reduce their impacts. Land Use Planning’. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New Year. More info: www.iceaustralia.com/fmawollongong or [email protected] Steven Molino

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DIARY COURT RULES ON CLIMATE CHANGE INDUCED FLOODING AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCES • 48 th Annual Floodplain Management A landmark decision in the NSW Land and Authority Conference 2008 Environment Court means that climate change induced flooding must be considered in the Wollongong, NSW 26-29 Feb 2008 development approval process. http://www.iceaustralia.com/fmawollongong/ see article preceding page A proposed residential and retirement development at Sandon Point, north of • Water Down Under 2008 Wollongong had been approved by Planning Adelaide, SA 14-18 Apr 2008 Minister Sartor under Part 3A of the NSW www.waterdownunder2008.com/ Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. This part of the Act allows developments of state • 9th National Conference on Hydraulics in or regional significance to be referred to the Water Engineering Minister for assessment, instead of the local Council. Darwin, NT 23-26 Sept 2008 th Call for abstracts, deadline 18 Jan 2008 The NSW Environment Defenders Office [email protected] appealed the decision on the grounds that the Minister had not considered the impacts of INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES climate change induced flooding on the The Use of Historical data in Rainfall and development, amongst other things. Flood Forecasting Justice Briscoe agreed and said that climate Oxford, UK, 8 Jan 2008 change “is a deadly serious issue”, but noted that [email protected] neither the Director-General’s environmental assessment nor any other documents referred to • 4th International Symposium on Flood by the Minister referred to climate change. Defence. When contacted by Floodplain Manager , the Toronto, Canada, 14-16 May 2008 Department of Planning’s media spokesperson http://www.flood2008.org/flood/ was unable to comment on the case nor indicate nd whether the Minister was likely to appeal. 2 Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference 2008 Wollongong Council’s Flood Engineer, Pas Wellington, New Zealand 29-30 July 2008 Silveri, told Floodplain Manager that the local Optional Workshops 28 &31 July 2008 flood study which Council had undertaken, and [email protected] which was available to the developer and the Papers due 1 April 2008 Department, included a 0.3m sea level increase to account for climate change. • ASFPM 33 rd Annual Conference The judgement can be viewed at Orlando, USA, 7-12 Jun 2009 www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au by following the links http://www.floods.org/home/default.asp to Court Decisions/Land and Environment Court/most recent judicial decisions/Walker v Minister for Planning [207] NSWLEC741.

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PLANS FOR VANS The intention is for the CMAs and VICSES to meet with managers of caravan parks with Guides have been prepared for caravan parks in known flood risks and use the Guidelines and Victoria and NSW to help park managers and Template to help the managers develop detailed occupants to be better prepared for floods. The plans for their facilities. flood risks in caravan parks have increased in recent decades as they are increasingly occupied Already the process has paid dividends. One of by permanent or semi-permanent residents (often the caravan parks in Lorne which was used to retirees) in mobile homes or cabins which cannot trial the guidelines had a new manager who had be moved out of the path of floodwaters. not considered the implications of flooding. The process of working through the new template On 27th November, the NSW SES launched its helped the park to cope with a serious flood only Caravan Park FloodSafe Guide which provides four weeks later. flood protection advice for caravan park managers. While the advice in the Guide is For more information about the NSW FloodSafe generic, it encourages park managers to develop guide go to specific, detailed plans using the SES Business www.ses.nsw.gov.au/infopages/6631.html . FloodSafe Toolkit. For information about the Shoalhaven flood The Guide will be posted with a covering letter emergency plan template contact Daniela from the SES Director General to all managers Heubusch at [email protected] . of caravan parks in NSW which have an identified flood risk. SES regions may then To download Council’s draft policy go to follow up with the caravan park managers and www3.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/applications/lepdc use the guides as an engagement tool to ps94/pex.asp encourage managers to prepare their own plans. For information about the Victorian Guidelines The Guide was launched at a workshop with and Template contact Roel Von’t Steen at caravan park owners in the Shoalhaven Local [email protected] Government Area on the NSW South Coast where there are 40 caravan parks subject to or go to flooding. Shoalhaven Council had organised the http://www.necma.vic.gov.au/programs/water/flo workshop to obtain feedback on its draft flood odplain/flood_study for the flood risk survey policy for caravan parks. report.

Over the past year, Shoalhaven Council, with the NEW RESEARCH CENTRE assistance of Bewsher Consulting and Molino Stewart, has prepared a draft flood emergency The Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre and plan template to improve the quality of flood CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research have plans and raise the level of park operators’ joined forces to focus their weather and climate engagement with flood planning issues. Stephen research efforts into a new joint research centre. Yeo of Bewsher Consulting recently visited 30 The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate caravan parks to help van managers develop Research will provide a coordinated approach to their own site specific plans. the critically important areas of weather and Bewsher Consulting also assisted with the climate research in Australia. The Centre is an development of the Victorian Caravan Parks equal partnership between the Bureau and Flood Emergency Management Plan Guidelines CSIRO. and Template which is currently being finalised More info www.cawcr.gov.au/ after being trialled in three caravan parks in South Western Victoria.

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EXCEPTIONAL DELAYS VICTORIAN FLOOD STRATEGY

Resolution of problems with the revised ‘Flood The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Guidelines’ in NSW ( FM Feb 2007 ) continues to Environment (DSE) is currently revising the drag on leaving councils’ current and future State Flood Strategy which was produced in planning in limbo. 1998. At the same time, the Department is beginning to develop a state-wide urban Planning Minister Sartor made regulatory stormwater strategy, and is considering changes and issued guidelines in January 2007 combining the two into a more broadly based which effectively discouraged councils from ‘excess runoff’ strategy. This would recognise imposing planning controls or disclosing flood that flood is just one extreme of the runoff risks on properties above the 1% flood level, spectrum, and explore the opportunities for more except in exceptional circumstances. integrated arrangements and policies.

The NSW FMA has labelled the changes as A draft for public comment is due to be released “prescriptive” and “anti-disclosure” as well as in late 2008. being inconsistent with the Floodplain Development Manual and “providing inadequate More info: [email protected] . legal protection to councils”. VIC FLOOD DATABASE UPDATED The FMA has submitted alternative guidelines to the Department of Planning (DOP) and written The updating of the Victorian Flood Database to Sartor as well as Minister Koperberg, who is (FM June 2005 ) is now complete. It now responsible for flood policy. It is hoping for includes all of the flood studies undertaken by meetings before Christmas to discuss the issue. CMAs and Councils in the decade since the CMAs were established. Information from the In the meantime, two councils have applied for database can be obtained from the DSE and consideration of exceptional circumstances but incurs an administrative fee. have not yet been given the green light. More info: [email protected] Wollongong Council wrote to the DOP and the Department of Environment And Climate NATURAL HAZARDS IN Change (DECC) seeking exemption because the AUSTRALIA rate of rise of floods in Wollongong are such that Council and the SES are advising residents to A Geoscience Australia report, ‘Natural Hazards shelter above floodwaters within their buildings. in Australia’, is now available for download. Buildings therefore need to be structurally sound for floods up to the probable maximum flood and The report provides an overview of rapid onset Council has to impose development controls to natural hazards, including flooding, and looks at this level. To date, it has received a favourable their spatial and temporal distribution and the response from DOP but none from DECC. potential impacts of climate change. A major part of the report focuses on the risk analyses Port Stephens Council wrote only to DECC and which are required for each type of hazard and asked that its 1 in 200 minimum floor level be the processes for undertaking those. It considers permitted because that provides a similar level of likelihood and consequences and how to identify risk to its coastal properties as a 1 in 100 plus and fill information gaps. It also provides an 500mm of freeboard would to properties along overview of roles and responsibilities for rivers inland. It has not received a response. different natural disasters in each jurisdiction.

DECC may be awaiting the DOP response to the To download go to: www.ga.gov.au FMA alternative guidelines.

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FLOODS AND BUILDING DESIGN aware of designated flood prone areas in the process of design and approval.” The Australian Building Codes Board's (ABCB) national technical committee considered the Anything which added to the cost of a building issue of buildings in flood prone areas ( FM April in a floodplain would need to have a 2005 ) at its October 2007 meeting. demonstrable net benefit and not significantly impact on the affordability of housing before the Steve Hudson from the ABCB told Floodplain technical committee would consider it worth Manager that it is aware of significant controlling in some way. Then the committee’s jurisdictional differences around Australia and recommendations would have to be agreed to by often there is an overlap between planning and the Board. building controls for buildings in flood prone areas. The delineation of planning and building The ABCB work program for 2008/9 is yet to be responsibilities for buildings in flood prone areas finalised. will be further clarified when the issue is tested with the National Implementation Model in FLOODS AND SCHOOLS 2008. This will also assist with developing a consistent approach to the matter around the The first outputs from the Tasmanian ‘Floods country. and You’ project have focussed on school education which has taken the project in a The ABCB believes that a two stage process of different direction to when it was first conceived. development and building control is then required. The first step is to ensure that there is a When Floods and You was launched ( FM Feb nationally consistent planning model for 2006 ), it was described as “a community floodplains, with specific building types only awareness project that aimed to help being permitted to be exposed to limited flood communities in Tasmania at high risk of flood risks. For example, currently a hospital can be understand their level of flood risk and know built at a 1 in 100 flood level in one jurisdiction what to do when a flood warning is issued”. while in another it must be built above the After a very poor response to a state-wide probable maximum flood level. Hudson community survey ( FM Dec 2006 ), the project suggests that such buildings need to have the was refocussed and a very different approach same flood risk throughout Australia. He is taken. hopeful that importance levels can be addressed in 2008. Its first outputs are a series of learning sequences and associated activities that can be used in Once the planning controls are agreed, the Tasmanian schools as part of the curriculum to ABCB would also be in a position to consider raise awareness of flood risk. Although the what building controls, if any, may be website advises that these educational and other appropriate. These may take the form of resources and case studies will be available for regulations, specifications or guidelines, and download in November, at the time Floodplain could consider materials, loads, design Manager went to press they were not available. parameters or detailing. The most appropriate means and matters would depend on the results More info: www.floodsandyou.org of benefit cost analyses and the regulatory review processes that must assess all valid NATURAL HAZARDS ON LINE options. Geoscience Australia has created a natural Hudson pointed out that the current Building hazards web site with information and links Code of Australia requires designers to consider about all natural hazards including floods. all reasonable impacts and actions on a building. Go to: www.ga.gov.au/hazards/ He said, “designers and regulators are generally

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MAITLAND FLOODSAFE major flood event. It had been 30 years since a flood of a similar size occurred, and floods More than 5,000 Maitland residents received a greater than this are still possible. This flood flood safety information DVD as part of a safety DVD will assist residents in making strategy to better prepare the Maitland preparations for the next flood.” community for future flood events, which could be worse than those experienced in June, 2007. “We should know fairly soon how effective the flood safety campaign has been, as we will be The DVD, which asks the question: ‘Are You conducting a survey in December of Maitland FloodSafe?’, has been developed by the Hunter- residents who have received the flood safety Central Rivers Catchment Management DVD. The results will be compared to a similar Authority (CMA) and the NSW State Emergency survey conducted two years ago, to determine Service (SES) with help from the Maitland whether there has been any change in the community. community's understanding, awareness and preparedness for flooding,” said Mr Evans. The DVD contains a movie presentation featuring a flood simulation of the Maitland More info: Amanda Hyde (02) 4930 1030 CBD prepared by Webb McKeown and Associates, aerial footage and news grabs from GIPPSLAND FLOODS the June 2007 flood, and historic footage of the record 1955 flood. Also on the DVD are The only major flooding to have occurred in electronic fact sheets and SES FloodSafe Guides. Australia during October to November took place in Gippsland, Victoria, in November. SES Hunter Region Controller Greg Perry said, “The DVD will be delivered to over 5,000 Major flood warnings were issued for the homes and businesses in Maitland and Macalister River upstream and downstream of surrounding flood prone suburbs including, Lake Glenmaggie and evacuation orders were Lorn, Bolwarra, Morpeth, Hinton and Millers issued for the townships of Tinamba and Newry th Forest. A folder with the printed fact sheets, SES on 4 November. FloodSafe Guides, an SES fridge magnet and the DVD is also available from the CMA free of Minor and moderate flood warnings were issued charge by calling 4930 1030.” for other Gippsland Rivers but the floods were not as widespread or as large as those that took Mr Perry said, “The DVD will be valuable for place in June and July of this year ( FM Aug the whole community, but particularly for new 2007 ). residents who have just moved into the area, and have little or no experience of flooding. The This time, the SES was able to organise computer-simulation of a major flood in community meetings and door knocking to alert Maitland clearly shows the extent of flooding in residents of the possibility of flooding, well in and around the city centre.” advance of the river peaking.

Catchment Management Authority General Southern Rural Water, the operator of Lake Manager Glenn Evans adds, “The flood in June Glenmaggie, was able to manage the outflows this year was a timely reminder for the Maitland from the Lake so that they peaked at community to always be prepared for floods. 59,760ML/day. This was just below the Even in a drought, a major flood can occur after 60,000ML/day threshold that would see much of just a few days of heavy rain and the Hunter Newry flooded and well below the River can rapidly rise to dangerous levels.” 148,000ML/day peak that occurred in June.

Mr Evans said, “For many Maitland residents, June was the first time they had experienced a

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WATER LOGGED CARS FLOOD Those deemed irreparable have their VIN THE MARKET removed and cannot be re-registered. Repairable vehicles must have the necessary work done and The deluge that caused more than $1billion be declared roadworthy by the RTA before re- damage to swamped homes and businesses in registration. Newcastle in June, may also have flooded the used car market with water-damaged vehicles. The buyer of a vehicle that has been reported to REVS as a repairable write-off may have Auction houses have seen an influx of vehicles difficulty re-selling later or getting the price selling for astoundingly low prices, but desired – even after spending thousands of unsuspecting buyers thinking they’ve got a dollars repairing it. bargain may have a flood-damaged car instead. INSPECTION CHECKLIST The vehicle may look good but water damage The NRMA says the following may help to can raise its ugly head months or years later, identify any water damage: according to David Carr, Manager of Motoring Advice for NRMA Motoring & Services. • Water or condensation in exterior lights

“Flood water can cause corrosion in the • ‘Tide marks’ at the carpets and door trims electrical connectors leading, in severe cases, to short circuits,” David told Open Road . • Dampness or musty smells

“These faults may not be apparent at the time of • Shrunken carpet purchase and can be difficult to repair.” • Missing or ill-fitting drain plugs He said flood water corrosion could also cause moving components to rust together, making • Surface rust at brackets under dash and under repairs dearer. seats, although some light rust here is considered normal for older cars “Water can also damage the engine, transmission and final drives and without dismantling the • Difficult-to-operate door locks, ventilation units, this is difficult to diagnose,” David said. controls and switches.

Health problems could also arise through An owner who wants to keep flood-damaged dampness, mould and excessive condensation. vehicles should:

With auctions the main market for these • Free drain holes from obstructions vehicles, followed by private sale, buyers should be wary of anyone selling a car that has recently • Check for dampness or mould and replace been bought at auction, or whose backyard looks carpets if affected like a car yard. • Listen for noises that get louder with speed Watch out for cheap cars that may or may not be and time, which could indicate imminent registered and newly registered cars that have bearing or driveline failure. been cheaply repaired. Source: NRMA Open Road Magazine. The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, alerted to write-offs through the Written Off Vehicle Register, determines whether such a vehicle can be repaired.

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NEW PRODUCT ADVISES NFRAG COMMISSIONS REVIEWS INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY RISKS The National Flood Risk Advisor Group has Risk Frontiers has announced the release of two decided that the Australian Emergency Manuals new on-line services – Street Address Hazard for flooding which are published by Emergency Profiles and accompanying Web services – that Management Australia, need to be updated. summarise natural hazard threats to individual Australian addresses. At its November meeting, it commissioned Chas Keys to revise the first three of these. It is also Aimed at raising community awareness of considering revision of the CSIRO publication natural hazards risk to property and life, these Floodplain Management in Australia Best services provide ‘threat by peril’ risk ratings for Practice Principles and Guidelines SCARM bushfire, earthquake, , and, Report 73. where available, riverine flood. More info Jim Elliot (03) 9669 4000 While no substitute for a property inspection, Risk Frontiers expects these products to become CONSISTENT FLOOD INSURANCE a standard part of the due diligence in property transactions, assist mortgage providers and Widely available residential and commercial insurers to make risk-informed decisions and flood insurance is expected to be available across help emergency managers more efficiently Australia from February 2008 ( FM Feb 2007 ). allocate and manage resources. Karl Sullivan from the Insurance Council of The products will be marketed and distributed by Australia (ICA) told Floodplain Manager that MapData Sciences, a company specialising in “insurers have agreed on a voluntary common the provision of digital mapping data products definition of flood for use in all insurance and Web-based services. Individual Street policies.” This will replace a myriad of Address Hazard Profiles can be accessed at definitions which were often confusing or www.mapds.com.au/solutions_risk_frontiers.asp contradictory. x for $50 (excluding GST); institutional users can access the Risk Rating data via a web service The ICA has also entered into a joint venture to under licence arrangements with MapData develop the National Flood Risks Database Sciences. which will be accessible to all ICA members from January 2008. More info: MapData Sciences ph 02 8436 2800 or [email protected]. The Database takes government flood maps, where these exist, and combines them with YALLOURN MINE FLOODS cadastral data to report the return frequency of >0, 1 and 2m flooding for any property. It also In November, an embankment of the Yallourn provides for each property the depth of flooding Open Cut Coal Mine collapsed causing the from a 1 in 50, 100, 200, 500 and Probable Latrobe River to pour into the mine. Although Maximum flood. the river was at a high level from recent rainfall, it had not burst its banks. Rather, saturated Insurers will use this to determine insurance ground conditions caused a slumping failure of premiums to cover flood risk. Mr Sullivan said the edge of the pit. The slump extended back to he expects that insurers will bundle the flood the river and the entire river diverted into the insurance with the general building and contents mine, leaving the river downstream dry. policies but, whether premiums will be higher for properties with higher flood risks or whether photos: the risks will be spread across all insured www.abc.net.au/gippsland/stories/s2092183.htm properties, may vary between insurers.

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FLOOD WARNINGS KILL THE detailed flood warning messages may struggle to RADIO STARS? find a place in the radio landscape.

Radio continues to be the most popular and REGULATION effective means of disseminating flood warnings A Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in Australia but changes in the industry may review in 2001 recommended “that the Minister affect its future. for Communications ... introduce legislative obligations on all broadcasters - commercial, Three growing issues in relation to commercial public and the ABC - to broadcast natural radio are the syndication of programs, disaster warnings to the public via radio and automation of broadcasts, and the concentration television, as and when requested by authorised of ownership. It would appear that current disaster management agencies and Bureau of regulations do not assist. Meteorology personnel” (Recommendation 26).

SYNDICATION In reporting on the implementation of the COAG There are a growing number of high profile recommendations, EMA stated in relation to broadcasters whose syndicated programs are Recommendation 26, that the broadcast through radio stations across Australia. “...recommendation is contrary to Australian This means that a local flood warning message is Government policy on self regulation by not relevant to the majority of the audience, the broadcasters. This has to be dealt with by direct local broadcaster has little influence over what is contact with broadcasters as stated in their codes broadcast and is reluctant to disrupt a high rating of practice & MOU's”. broadcast. This also applies to live broadcasts of sporting events. Rob Gell stated at the 2007 Victorian Flood Conference that it was a licence condition that The station may issue the warning in place of an commercial broadcasters issue emergency advertisement but this will mean loss of revenue warnings but there is no reference to this in to the broadcaster and of loss of detail in the Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Services Act warning which is broadcast. 1992 (Cmwlth) which contains the conditions of licences. AUTOMATION However, broadcast of emergency warnings is a There are also an increasing number of radio requirement under the codes of practice of the stations which automate their broadcasts. This is relevant groups. particularly easy with music stations where computer files of songs, advertisements and time For example, the Commercial Television calls are logged in for the week and play Industry Code of Practice includes requirements automatically and simply receive syndicated and advice regarding the broadcast of emergency news streams at specified times. An information. The commercial radio code is unscheduled warning message does not fit within essentially the same as the TV code. this type of operation. Both codes leave it open for the individual OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION broadcaster to determine when, what and how Recent changes to media ownership laws open frequently it needs to broadcast. Something, the way for larger broadcasting conglomerates to such as a Bureau of Meteorology Flood Watch, own more local radio stations. would probably not fit within the definition of an emergency under the codes. This, in turn, could lead to an increase in the number of automated and syndicated broadcasts Radio code of practice: and decreased local content. Local, specific and www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_i d=1170

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SEASONAL OUTLOOK

The national outlook for total rainfall over the northern NT and far northeast of WA, the late spring to mid-summer period (November to chances approach 75%. There are also 60 to 70% January), shows a moderate to strong shift in the chances in southwest WA. odds favouring above average falls from the NT and northern WA to southern and Over most remaining parts of the country, the northern NSW. A wetter season is also favoured chances of exceeding the three-month median in southwest WA, although it's generally a dry rainfall are between 45 and 60%, except in time of year in this part of the country. southwest Victoria where the probabilities drop to around 40% along the coastal fringe. The pattern of seasonal rainfall odds across Australia is mainly a result of continuing higher A late-developing La Niña event is in progress than average temperatures over parts of the across the Pacific Basin and computer models tropical and sub-tropical Indian Ocean. indicate it will persist at least until the early part of 2008. The 30-day value of the Southern The chances of exceeding the median rainfall for Oscillation Index (SOI) was +1 as at 22nd the November to January period are between 60 October. and 70% in a broad region stretching from northern WA and the NT across western and Source:http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead southern Queensland and the northern half of New South Wales (see map). In parts of the More info contact : Grant Beard on (03) 9669 4527, Lyn Bettio on (03) 9669 4165 or David Jones on (03) 9669 4085.

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INTERNATIONAL FLOODS Tropical cyclone Noel caused widespread flooding within the Dominican Republic, Haiti, There were 17 international floods during Cuba, Bahamas and Jamaica from 28 th October October and November, according to Dartmouth to 10 th November. This resulted in 142 deaths Observatory. The worst of these included: and 94,000 being displaced. This flood has been labelled the worst in 40 years in Cuba. Mexico Central America Four days of flooding, caused by tropical cyclone Lorenzo, killed five people and Flooding from 12 th to 26 th October throughout displaced 33,000 in early October. Then, later in Central America affected Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the month, flooding from tropical cyclone Noel Honduras and El Salvador. The total death toll left 19 dead and 800,000 people displaced. across Central America reached 37 and 10,000 These were the worst floods in 50 years. people were displaced from their homes.

Vietnam India

Typhoon Lekima caused the worst flooding in 45 Unseasonal heavy rains led to the worst floods in years in northern and central Vietnam. The Manipur in 30 years, lasting from 17 th to 24 th death toll reached 88 and 30,000 people were October, and resulting in two deaths and 30,000 displaced. More flooding, post Typhoon citizens being displaced. Lekima, killed another 15 and displaced 22,000. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were also Flooding from 20 th October to 16 th November in subject to severe flooding following five days of the Mekong Delta caused a further three deaths continual rain between 27 th October and 1 st and displaced 280,000. From 28 th October to 9 th November, leading to 29 deaths and displacing November, flooding resulted in 70 deaths and 50,000. displaced 94,000 throughout Central Vietnam. Colombia Heavy rains between 10 th and 21 st November from Typhoon Paipah caused more flooding in La Nina has caused heavy rains persisting from st th Central Vietnam, killing 55 and leaving 150,000 1 October to 5 December, leaving 90 people displaced. Hundreds of domestic crocodiles dead and a further 266,000 people displaced. The escaped into the Cau River after floods damaged deaths resulted from flooding and landslides. their cages. Papua The Philipines Heavy rains between 12 th -26 th November from Landslides and flooding from tropical storm tropical cyclone Guba has left many villages in Hagibis (Lando) caused the death of 13 people the Oro Province underwater, with 170 people and displaced 15,000 in Central Visayans and dead and 13,000 displaced. Northern Mindanao regions and Iligan City. Further flooding, caused by Typhoon Mitag in Bangladesh late November, killed 29 and displaced 540,000 in Northern Luzon. Cyclone Sidr hit southwest Bangladesh and has been recorded as the worst storm since 1991. th st Carribean Resultant flooding from 15 November to 1 December left 3,447 people dead and 3,000,000 Heavy rain from 7th to 17 th October caused displaced. floods that killed 45 people in Haiti and displaced 38,000 across Haiti and Cuba.

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