FMA is delighted to announce that IAG will again be the naming rights sponsor for the Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award and Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award. 

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) is the largest general insurance company in Australia and New Zealand, and IAG and NRMA Insurance (operated by IAG) have regularly supported the Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Awards since 2014.

It’s time to start planning your nominations for this year’s Excellence Awards: 

• The FMA - IAG Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award
• The FMA - Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year Award
• The FMA - IAG Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award. 

The Excellence Awards recognise outstanding contributions to flood risk management by FMA Member organisations, Individual, Professional or Student FMA Members, and people employed by FMA Member organisations.

Nominations for the 2025 Excellence Awards will open in late February, when details will be posted on the FMA website. 

Finalists will be showcased at the Gala Award Ceremony at Melbourne’s Pullman on the Park Grand Ballroom during the FMA National Conference. 

FMA’s first Victorian National Conference is just 13 weeks away, from 13 to 16 May, and early registrations are now open. For 2025 a special Early Three-day Registration Rate of $990 is available for FMA Full, Corporate and Associate Members.

The Conference theme, “Flood knows no boundaries”, highlights that floods can affect any area, and emphasises the importance of collaboration across states, catchments and communities to effectively manage flood risks. The program is being developed by a national committee of practicing flood risk managers. 

Already interest in this year’s Conference is at an all time high with a record number of Abstracts received – over 180! Thank you to everyone who has contributed, we are assured of a packed high-quality program of all things flood-related. 

A special thank you goes to sponsors who have confirmed so far: 

FMA Excellence Awards Sponsor

IAG - Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award

IAG - Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award

Silver Sponsors

Queensland Reconstruction Authority

Water Technology

Bronze Sponsors

Royal Haskoning DHV - Conference Dinner

WMAwater - Casual Dinner

KBR - YFM Networking Event

Stationery Sponsor

Allan & Dennis

Lanyard Sponsor

Rhelm

There are still some opportunities to promote your organisation and to support FMA by securing a Conference Sponsorship Package or Exhibition Booth, for details contact Amy McIntosh: Amy@eastcoastconferences.com.au

Please join us at Pullman Melbourne on the Park Hotel, for four days of inspiring discussion, enlightening technical tours, valuable networking and memorable social events from 13 to 16 May.

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

Join us on the evening of Tuesday, 25 February 2025 for the first Stormwater Victoria Seminar of 2025! In partnership with Floodplain Management Australia (FMA), the 2024 Climate Change Update to ARR Seminar will be held at the BECA Event Space, Melbourne Quarter Tower from 5:00pm to 8:30pm. Registration will be open from 4.30 pm.

This will be a technical workshop regarding the 2024 climate change update to the Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR v4.2) guideline. The workshop will include a formal presentation by Monique Retallick, a modelling specialist with practical experience with the climate change methodology and Mark Babister, an ARR editor, where they will discuss the climate change updates.

The release of ARR v4.2 marks a significant shift in how climate change impacts are modelled, particularly in relation to rainfall and losses. This technical workshop will guide you through the updates, offering critical insights and practical advice on how to apply the new methodologies in real-world scenarios.

A panel discussion will follow up the ARR v4.2 climate change presentation. The panellists will include Melbourne Water and other local government representatives, and the aim of the discussion will be climate change guidelines applications and challenges in Victoria. Confirmed panellists include Dr. Sina Akram, Principal Flood Modelling Lead at Melbourne Water and Alex Simmons, Founder and Director at SWM Consulting Pty Ltd.

DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 25 February 2025

Time: 5.00 pm to 8.30 pm (Access and Registration from 4.30 pm)

Venue: BECA Event Space, Melbourne Quarter Tower

Address: Level 23, 695 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008

Member Registration Cost (FMA and Stormwater Victoria Members: $75.00

Non-Member Registration Cost: $115.00

Details and Tickets: https://www.stormwatervictoria.com.au/ 

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has released a Shelter-in-place for Flash Flooding guideline for councils and industry, providing guidance aimed at stopping inappropriate development on floodplains.  

The guideline was prepared by DPHI, and is part of the NSW Government’s response to the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry.  It was developed in consultation with the NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.  

The guideline can be used by consent authorities to assess if sheltering in place is a suitable emergency strategy where sites are prone to flash flooding and people can safely shelter above the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) level. 

The guideline aims to: 

• Help provide consent authorities a consistent approach for carrying out site specific risk-based assessment.  
• Help assess if shelter in place is a suitable emergency management strategy for development proposed in flash flood environments by balancing a proposals merits, risks, and impacts. 
• Inform considerations about whether appropriate measures are in place to limit potential flash flood related impacts on affected proposals. 

DPHI’s Executive Director, Environment and Infrastructure Planning and Resilient Places, Steve Hartley, said: “Evacuation is always the preferred emergency response in a natural event such as a flood, however, on some occasions a shelter in place strategy may be considered.  

“The guideline will help councils and industry consider the option for a shelter in place strategy, where flash flooding is the only flood risk present at a site.”

Shelter-in-place has been a topic of lively conversation at many FMA Meetings and Conferences, and the draft guideline was discussed by a panel of experts at the February 2023 FMA Workshop in Sydney. Feedback from that Workshop was incorporated into FMA’s submission to the Department. 

Melanie Schwecke, DPHI’s Specialist Planning Officer, Resilience Planning, will provide an introduction to the new guideline at the February FMA Workshop in Sydney. 

For further information on the guideline, visit planning.nsw.gov.au/shelter-in-place.

The guideline is available here.

In 2020 Dams Safety NSW (DSNSW) proposed a change to the Dams Safety Regulation 2019 which would require owners of declared dams to pay a levy to meet costs of administering the Dams Safety Act 2015. 

A declared dam is deemed to have the potential to endanger downstream life, cause major damage or loss to infrastructure, the environment, or cause major health and social impacts. Each declared dam is given a consequence category that reflects this potential.

In 2024 the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) was commissioned to recommend a methodology for the levy, emphasising the financial sustainability and efficiency of DSNSW.

FMA wrote to NSW Ministers in 2020 advising that the imposition of the proposed Dam Safety Levy on flood mitigation basins would place an unreasonable financial burden on Local Government Councils, and discourage further investment in mitigation works intended to improve the safety of NSW communities.

FMA also provided a submission to the IPART review in April 2024, pointing out the adverse implications of the proposed levy on flood mitigation infrastructure.

The NSW Government has now advised that it intends to introduce a Dams Safety Levy from I July 2025, payable by all owners of declared dams in NSW.

The levy for 2025/26 will be charged at the following rates, plus a consumer price index (CPI) adjustment:

• $7,651 for low consequence dams
• $10,588 for significant consequence dams
• $12,621 for high consequence dams
• $15269 for extreme consequence dams.

It appears that the government has acknowledged what the flood industry had to say but decided that a levy is a fair and reasonable approach.

More information about the Dams Safety Levy is provided in Dams Safety Levy – Frequently asked questions.

With extreme weather never far from the news the subject of the February FMA Queensland Chapter Workshop is highly appropriate. FMA Queensland Director Jess Carey will lead discussion on what we can learn and apply from the 2022 floods to help make Queensland more flood resilient. 

Our expert presenters are:

• Will Kershaw and Sam Bowstead from the Queensland Government Resilient Homes Fund - presenting on assistance for house raising, resilient retrofit and other forms of support. 
• Kate Cotter from the Resilient Building Council - discussing assessing the resilience of individual property owners, and retro-fitting properties to reduce insurance premiums. 
• Vina Varsani, General Manager Resilience and Recovery, Queensland Reconstruction Authority - discussing Betterment, Resilience Funding and the resilient homes building guidance.

This year we are continuing the afternoon format for Queensland Meetings and Workshops. For those who can join us in person at AECOM in Brisbane, lunch will be provided at 12:00, followed at 12:45 by the Quarterly Meeting with a full program of agency and industry updates, followed by the Workshop. 

To wrap up the day please join us at 4:15 for networking afternoon tea, then social drinks with the FMA Young Floodplain Managers.

If you are unable to get to the Meeting in person a Teams link will be available.

Full details of the Meeting and registration are at the FMA website: floods.asn.au/meetings

Please join us at the Mercure Hotel, Sydney, for the next FMA NSW/ACT Chapter Quarterly Meeting and Workshop. The day starts at 10:00 with a Welcome Morning Tea followed by the Quarterly Meeting, complimentary lunch and Workshop.

Agencies providing updates will include: 

• Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure 
• NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• NSW Public Works
• WaterNSW
• NSW Reconstruction Authority
• NSW State Emergency Service
• ACT Government
• Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
• Bureau of Meteorology.

Where else can you get such a comprehensive update on all things flood related, and make valuable connections with agency representatives?

At the end of the day we invite you to join colleagues at 3:15 for networking afternoon tea, followed by social drinks.

For the latest details on the Sydney Meeting and Workshop, plus the registration link, please go to the FMA website: floods.asn.au/meetings

The Local Government Association of Queensland’s biennial Queensland Disaster Management Conference will be held from 27 to 29 May at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In partnership with the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire Department, Queensland Reconstruction Authority and Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management, planning is underway for what is set to be another not to be missed event. 

One of the largest Disaster Management Conferences, this opportunity is dedicated to supporting LGAQ members and key partners from government, industry and non-government organisations, to strengthen critical relationships, partner, share insights and generate ideas as we face more frequent and intense severe weather seasons.

Details at: 2025 Queensland Disaster Management Conference

The FMA Young Floodplain Managers (YFM) network exists to represent, engage, and inspire young floodplain management professionals across Australia. 

Whilst the YFM's mission is to represent, engage, support and inspire young floodplain management professionals across the nation, anyone who supports this objective is welcome to apply for membership of the YFM and engage in the group's actions, irrespective of their age or level of experience. 

Are you interested in finding out more? You can connect with the YFM by visiting the YFM Linkedin page here or submit a YFM Membership application at floods.asn.au/yfm.

Did you know YFM Webinars and Online Panel recordings can be found in the Members' Section of floods.asn.au? If you haven’t registered for the Members’ Section, contact us to get your login details.