Brisbane's Floodsmart Future Update 2021
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BRISBANE’S FLOODSMART FUTURE UPDATE 2021 CATCHMENT FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING 2 | BRISBANE’S FLOODSMART FUTURE UPDATE 2021 A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD MAYOR Brisbane is a city of resilience, strength, vision and adaptability. January 2021 marks 10 years since Since then, further storm events Brisbane is committed to a floodwater ravaged Brisbane and floods have occurred. Being collaborative approach to floodplain inundating almost 30,000 homes and prepared for severe weather and management, demonstrated through businesses. The 2011 Floods was natural disasters, such as flooding, is our ongoing contribution to the Brisbane’s largest national disaster in no longer a once-in-a-lifetime event. Brisbane River Catchment Flood almost 40 years and the devastation It has become part of our way of life. Studies and Resilient Rivers Program. to many people’s homes and Council continues to work hard to I am keen to share with you what we businesses was heartbreaking. make sure that Brisbane is prepared have learned since the 2011 floods. The disaster mobilised a ‘Mud Army’ for future flood events. This FloodSmart Future Strategy of volunteers who rolled up their update provides an overview of the Adopting WaterSmart practices is sleeves to get friends, family, virtual catchment floodplain management a key priority in Brisbane. Clean, strangers and Brisbane back on their planning we have undertaken and Green, Sustainable 2017-2031 and feet. Numbering around 25,000, outlines how we can continue to we continue to show how risk-based and making news around the world, work together to build a resilient planning, clever construction and these volunteers grabbed their city; a city that is safe, confident an engaged community create a hats, gloves, sunscreen, shovels and ready for the future. liveable, resilient city. and brooms to clean up our city. Adrian Schrinner LORD MAYOR CATCHMENT FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING | 3 CONTENTS Brisbane – A resilient city 4 Our floodplain management story 5 What have we achieved since 2011? 7 What Council is considering for the future 10 How you can be prepared 12 This document is... • A framework for planning and decision-making • A strategic guide for Council, businesses and the general public • A suite of potential projects that could be implemented in the short, medium or long term • A continuation of work undertaken under the FloodSmart Future Strategy 2012-2031 This document does… • Consider flood impacts from the Brisbane River, local creeks and waterways, overland flow and storm tide • Seek to continually improve Brisbane’s readiness for and resilience to flooding This document isn’t… • A statutory plan, detailed advice on specific locations or projects or a budget plan This document doesn’t… • Discuss specific management measures for storm tide and coastal hazards, as these will be addressed in Council’s Coastal Hazards Adaptation Strategy 4 | BRISBANE’S FLOODSMART FUTURE UPDATE 2021 BRISBANE – A RESILIENT CITY Brisbane is a coastal, subtropical Flooding in Brisbane is multifaceted, Resilience is the ability to plan, city defined by its river and bay. with a range of flooding types prepare, respond and return to normal Our lifestyle and recreation revolve caused by different interactions life with minimal disruption following around the city’s many water courses. of those elements. Brisbane has an adverse event. It means that an We play, relax and celebrate on always lived with flooding, with informed and empowered community the banks of the Brisbane River, impacts experienced firsthand by will have access to the information the tributaries and creeks that our residents and businesses since they need to act on to minimise weave through our suburbs and that time. the impact of future flooding. along the shores of Moreton Bay. As our climate changes we want The ability to be resilient is now Our relationship with water is to ensure our community remains seen as one of the key attributes of complex, but it is a key part of safe by adapting and preparing for a sustainable city – economically, Brisbane’s much-loved identity. future flood events from all sources environmentally, socially and including river, creek, coastal and institutionally. A resilient city balances Flooding in Brisbane is a natural overland flow. community, environment, built form process, shaped by Brisbane’s climate, and infrastructure to provide a liveable topography and geographical city now and for future generations. location on a floodplain. Our vision is for communities Our vision is for growing our city Our vision is for connected and on floodplains that are and economy responsibly, engaged communities that are safe confident ready because they understand their in how we adapt to flooding. for flooding. level of flood risk and are taking action to manage it. CATCHMENT FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING | 5 2011 flood OUR FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT STORY A catchment is an area Flood risk management tools of land surrounded by natural features such as hills, where water flows to a common low point, such as a creek, lake, river or bay. A floodplain is an area of land that is subject to inundation by floods. Catchment floodplain management involves assessing and managing flood risks within a catchment, or series of catchments, to reduce the impact on The FloodSmart Future Strategy uses four tools for flood risk management including: people and to property. • flood-resilient buildings and infrastructure • flood awareness and information The FloodSmart Future • land use planning and development control Strategy 2012-2031 was developed as an overarching strategy • flood emergency management. outlining Council’s approach Up until the 1970s, flood mitigation infrastructure (e.g. dams, levees, channel to floodplain management. modifications) was the primary method of managing flood risks in Australia. 6 | BRISBANE’S FLOODSMART FUTURE UPDATE 2021 A series of large floods in the 1970s Over the past 10 years Council has • Council’s Citywide Creek and resulted in a change of focus from committed to a series of studies Overland Flow Path Mapping mitigation infrastructure to land use including the following, to provide the Study was complete in 2017 and planning as a means of controlling most up-to-date technical information provides the latest data relating developments on floodplains. regarding flood behaviour. to overland flow and previously un-modelled creek flooding across The 1990s saw a focus on flood • Council commenced its current the whole of Brisbane’s local emergency management and program of creek flood studies in government area. more recently there has been 2011 and by 2015 had completed an emphasis on providing flood flood studies that provided the The information provided by these awareness and information. latest creek flood data for more studies has been used to understand than 80% of urbanised areas the consequences of flooding and It is now recognised that best across the city. identify floodplain management practice floodplain management measures, through a process requires the coordinated application • The Brisbane River Catchment known as catchment floodplain of all of these management tools. Flood Studies commenced in management planning. Catchment floodplain management 2012 as a partnership between planning makes use of these tools to the Queensland Government, Council’s Local Floodplain identify a range of measures to better Seqwater and the four local Management Plan includes a manage flood risk within a catchment. governments of Brisbane, Ipswich, comprehensive and up-to-date Somerset and Lockyer Valley. assessment of all sources of The process of catchment floodplain This program of works has resulted Brisbane’s flood risk, drawing management planning considers the in the completion of the Brisbane on a range of existing studies, consequences of flooding on the River Catchment Flood Study in information and management community, environment, businesses 2017 and the Strategic Floodplain measures for future decision- and infrastructure. It aims to: Management Plan in 2018. making. The Local Floodplain • reduce the flood risk to people Management Plan sets a roadmap • Council completed its Coastal and property for long-term flood management Flood Study in 2015, providing that considers the possible • maintain local economic a better understanding of tidal, impacts of a changing climate. development and growth storm surge and associated coastal • ensure appropriate land flooding within Moreton Bay. use planning • protect the local environment • minimise impacts to infrastructure and services. CATCHMENT FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING | 7 WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED SINCE 2011? Much work has been OUR FLOOD AWARENESS ACHIEVEMENTS undertaken since the Promoting community understanding of flooding to encourage readiness. adoption of the FloodSmart An informed and empowered community will have access to the information Future Strategy, to ensure they need to act, build resilience and minimise the impact of future floods. that Brisbane is working Council has improved the ways in The Flooding in Brisbane Guides which it makes information available are designed to help residents and towards becoming a more to residents and businesses. A range businesses prepare for flooding and resilient city; a city which is of awareness tools is available online outline simple things they can do to safe, confident and ready. and updated regularly with the best be prepared. available flood study data. Council has embraced Council’s Open Data platform