FMA Flyer 12 December

Published: Tue, 01/02/24

FLYER ISSUE 12: DECEMBER 2023

READ IN BROWSER

NEXT FMA MEETINGS: 7 FEBRUARY AT BRISBANE (QLD CHAPTER)

AND 15 FEBRUARY AT SYDNEY (NSW/ACT CHAPTER)

As we reflect on the year 2023, it has been a year of floods which started with major flooding in Queensland and Western Australia’s Kimberley Region, and is finishing with a large recovery effort again under way across Queensland's far north, with dozens of communities left isolated just days out from Christmas following the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, and recurring intense storms and flash flooding in Queensland's south east over the Christmas/New Year period.

Back in January, a low pressure system drenched Queensland's central coast with roads cut in the state’s north and flash flooding across Mackay and the Whitsundays.

Meanwhile, January also saw major flooding in the Kimberley region of Western Australia with devastating results. Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie caused intense rainfall, leaving towns cut off and communities isolated in the state’s “worst ever” floods.

The 2023 flooding has followed the “unprecedented” flooding in NSW in 2022 and goodness knows what’s in store for 2024. Floodplain Management continues to remain a top priority for all levels of government and all communities across Australia.

On that note, our FMA National Conference in Sydney "Preparing for the Unprecedented Flood" was an amazing event with record numbers of presentations, record attendance and a record number of international delegates.

FMA continues to grow thanks to the fantastic contributions from our Members and our Executive, and I wish to thank everyone who has provided input or attended our Conference and Quarterly Workshops in Brisbane and Sydney this year.

FMA continues to be the peak body for Floodplain Management and we will continue to provide the best possible service to our Members and provide the best possible submissions and advocacy for all communities around Australia in 2024.

In closing, may I wish everyone a safe and resilient New Year.

ID

Ian Dinham | FMA President

FMA CONFERENCE - SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Organising for the 2024 FMA National Conference is well under way with 120 abstracts now received. Thank you to everyone who provided an abstract, it’s going to be a very busy Christmas New Year period for our Abstract Review Panel!

We are delighted to announce that the Queensland Reconstruction Authority has confirmed as Conference Supporter.

The Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), on Brisbane’s Southbank. The BCEC has a global reputation for excellence as reflected by 192 awards including the AIPC APEX ‘Worlds Best’ Convention Centre Award for 2016 to 2018, and Runner Up in the AIPC APEX Award for 2020-2022.

Early registrations will open in January. The Conference is just 20 weeks away - 21 to 24 May!

Also, Sponsorship and Trade Exhibit opportunities for the Conference are still available. Contributing as a sponsor or exhibitor provides a wonderful opportunity for organisations to engage with a large field of influential leaders and decision-makers in communities from all over Australia and overseas.

Packages that are available offer a variety of exposure levels at the Conference. The opportunity also exists to meet with attendees through complimentary attendance at the Conference and networking functions.

More information can be found at floodplainconference.com

HAVE YOUR SAY - DRAFT ARR CLIMATE CHANGE CHAPTER

The Commonwealth Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), in partnership with Engineers Australia, is seeking comments on the draft updated Climate Change Considerations chapter in Australian Rainfall and Runoff.

Feedback was previuosly invited on proposed updates to the Climate Change Considerations chapter in Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation. More than 50 submissions were received from a range of stakeholders, and a summary of the survey findings can be found on the DCCEEW Have Your Say Consultation page.

The proposed update reflects the input from the earlier consultation, and also incorporates the most recent climate science research, projections and observed data.

Consultation is open until Monday 12 February 2024. To provide feedback please visit the DCCEEW consultation hub.

For more information or any questions, please email climate.science@dcceew.gov.au.

Funding for this project comes from National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) Disaster Risk Reduction Package.

$100 MILLION INVESTED IN BETTERING WA FLOOD-PRONE ROADS

Roads and bridges in Western Australia's Kimberley region will be more resilient to future floods and storms, with the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments investing $104.9 million in a betterment program for flood-impacted infrastructure.

The project is jointly funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the Infrastructure Betterment Program.

Essential public road infrastructure damaged by the January 2023 record-breaking flooding following ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie is being rebuilt to a stronger, more resilient standard intended to better withstand future natural disasters.

The new Fitzroy River Bridge was officially opened in December, and was the first completed project, with upgrades to damaged sections of the Great Northern Highway and Gibb River Road also underway.

Works undertaken through the Infrastructure Betterment Program will complement the estimated $450 million repair and rebuild works underway on flood-damaged roads and bridges – also jointly funded by both governments.

ANU CLIMATE UPDATE 2024

FMA Member the Australian National University’s Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions will present the annual ANU Climate Update 2024, providing an overview of how our climate is changing and how we are responding to these changes in Australia and around the world.

The event will be held on Monday 5 February from 3 to 6 pm, and will bring together experts, policymakers, students, industry and the community to discuss the state of our climate and what can be done to tackle climate change.

Attendance can be either in person or online via Zoom, and the event will be recorded and made available online.

Details are at: https://iceds.anu.edu.au/news-events/events/anu-climate-update-2024

HUNTER RIVER FORUM BRINGS RIVER USERS TOGETHER FOR A SHARED VISION

FMA Member NSW Hunter Local Land Services (HLLS) and its predecessors the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA and Hunter Catchment Management Trust have been pioneers of nature-based river and flood management techniques and continue to promote innovative community-based catchment management practices.

Below is an excerpt from a report by Land Services Officer Amanda Hyde on the Hunter River Forum recently held at Singleton:

Hunter Local Land Services delivered a successful Hunter River Forum at Singleton on 30 November, attended by 130 river users and managers. The purpose was to support local action to improve the Hunter’s rivers, with the theme of improving the health and resilience of the Hunter River through community engagement in riparian management.

The three engaging keynote speakers set the scene for the day with a forward-looking focus from local history expert Dr. Cameron Archer, journalist and biographer Scott Bevan and Macquarie University Professor Kirstie Fryirs, co-developer of the River Styles Framework.

Professor Fryirs’ presentation titled ‘Geomorphology of the Hunter River’ highlighted the importance of putting roughness back into river channels through natural stream recovery using vegetation to improve river health and reduce flood risk by slowing down floods. She likened increasing channel roughness with increasing the fibre in your gut.

Community presentations featured a range of actions to improve rivers including projects in Wollombi Brook catchment, a tributary of the Hunter River. Upper Yango Landholders Association presented on the successful community-led riparian revegetation to repair and manage severe erosion of the creek following a bushfire and flood. Broke Bulga Landcare presented on the genetic testing of endangered River Red Gums to inform conservation of the species across the Hunter Valley.

The Forum featured a positive and collaborative vibe for improving river health and resilience. It was very well received by appreciative attendees, with many networking and partnership discussions occurring throughout the day between landholders, community groups, councils and agencies.

The event media release is at:

Inaugural event to showcase community commitment to the Hunter River - Local Land Services (nsw.gov.au)

MONTHLY YFM FEATURE

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

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

FMA New South Wales/ACT Chapter Meeting Dates for 2024

Thursday 15 February - NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting at Sydney
Thursday 23 May - Annual General Meeting at Brisbane
Thursday 15 August - NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting at Sydney
Thursday 14 November - NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting at Sydney

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FMA Queensland Chapter Meeting Dates for 2024

Wednesday 7 February - Queensland Chapter Meeting at Brisbane
Thursday 23 May - Annual General Meeting at Brisbane
Wednesday 7 August - Queensland Chapter Meeting at Brisbane
Wednesday 6 November - Queensland Chapter Meeting at Brisbane

POSITIONS VACANT

City of Moreton Bay

Job Details - Principal Engineer Floodplain Management - Moreton Bay Regional Council

Job Details - Floodplain Management Engineer - Moreton Bay Regional Council

If you are interested in promoting a vacant position with us, please contact us.

Please remember that while we circulate Vacant Positions in this monthly Flyer, sometimes position closing deadlines don't align with the time of its distribution. Make sure you head to floods.asn.au/jobs to check for Vacant Positions that may not be listed here due to shorter closing dates.

TRAVELLING CAPS AND BEANIES

Have you got a photo of your FMA Conference Cap, Beanie or Bucket Hat?

Send us your photos!

FLOODS.ASN.AU

FMA MEMBERSHIP

FMA CONFERENCE

115 Marshall Street
Garden Suburb NSW 2289
AUSTRALIA

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