The FMA review of the recommendations of the NSW Independent Flood Inquiry has been completed by WMS Engineering, and the response has been provided to the NSW Premier. 

This has been a great collaborative effort, thank you to all Members who contributed their comments and concerns. WMS comprehensively considered the wide range of issues relevant to NSW FMA Members, including input from the FMA Planners Discussion Group.

Catherine Walker and her team are congratulated for distilling this information into a succinct document.

The response provides an overview of feedback on each chapter of the report of the Inquiry, and detailed responses to recommendations from Chapter 6 (Building back better – reconstruction) and 7 (Living with flood (disaster risk) in the natural and built environment).

The response is intended to identify concerns and raise points for further discussion with the NSW Government, and we look forward to opportunities for collaboration as the recommendations of the Inquiry are further investigated and implemented.

The FMA Feedback on Recommendations of the NSW Independent Flood Inquiry is available at the FMA website: floods.asn.au/submissions

The Call for Abstracts for the 2024 FMA National Conference is now open. We are looking for a range of high-quality presentations relating to the Conference theme “Floods in a Changing Climate”, from across Australia and overseas, dealing with riverine, overland and flash flooding, and coastal inundation. 

The content can be technical or non-technical to suit our varied audience, so you don’t need to be a “flood expert” to provide a presentation. The practical experiences of Councillors, flood committee members and community representatives can be of real value to fellow Conference attendees. 

Tertiary students studying floodplain management or natural disaster management and Young Floodplain Managers are particularly encouraged to participate and share their experiences.

The closing date for abstract submission is Monday 11 December.

The Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre located at Southbank on the Brisbane River, from Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 May, with optional pre-conference workshops on Tuesday 21 May. 

For the latest Conference information please see: https://floodplainconference.com

We are delighted to announce that IAG is the naming rights sponsor of the 2024 FMA Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award, and the FMA Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award. 

FMA President Ian Dinham said the continuing support of IAG and NRMA Insurance for the Excellence Awards and FMA Conferences is very much appreciated. 

“The Excellence Awards are a highlight of each year’s National Conference, and the support of IAG ensures the continued high regard with which the Awards are held”, he said. 

“Australia has world-leading people in a wide range of flood risk management fields, from Local Government, State and Commonwealth Government agencies, consultancies, product innovators and educational institutions. We are very much looking forward to reading their 2024 Excellence Awards nominations, and being able to promote their achievements to a wide audience in partnership with IAG.”

IAG (Insurance Australia Group Limited) is the largest general insurance company in Australia and New Zealand, and a Corporate Member of FMA. NRMA Insurance first sponsored the FRM Project of the Year Award in 2014.

Nominations for the FMA-IAG Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award, FMA-Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year Award, and FMA-IAG Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award will open in February.

The University of NSW (UNSW) Climate Change Weather Centre is seeking expressions of interest from students wanting to pursue a two-year, fully-funded Master's degree in climate and weather research.

The NSW Government has provided $1.5 million to launch the targeted master’s program with research projects focused on a better understanding of weather and climate extremes and their impacts on natural hazards such as floods or bushfires.

The NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre (BNHRC) was launched earlier this year, and is a research consortium led out of Western Sydney University, in partnership with UNSW, University of Wollongong, The Australian National University (ANU), University of Melbourne and University of Tasmania, designed to deliver applied research. 

Students will have the opportunity to work with experts at the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre, build valuable research and industry connections across the BNHRC, and perform cutting-edge research with real-world impact. Possible projects include investigations of rainfall extremes, flash droughts, severe convection, climate drivers, and fire weather.

The media release is available at: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/$1-point-5-million-for-nsw-bushfire-and-natural-hazards-research-centre-climate-and-weather-research

For further information please email Tim Raupach at t.raupach@unsw.edu.au

Expressions of interest close on 4 December, 2023. 

For more information on the Young Floodplain Managers, visit floods.asn.au/yfm.