NEXT FMA MEETING:QLD CHAPTER - WEDNESDAY 6 AUGUST IN BRISBANE NSW/ACT CHAPTER - THURSDAY 14 AUGUST IN SYDNEY
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Welcome to the June edition of the Floodplain Management Australia (FMA) Monthly Flyer. In just over a month’s time we will be
meeting again at our August Quarterly Meetings. Please make sure you put the dates in your diaries: - Queensland Quarterly Meeting — Wednesday 6 August from 12:00pm to 4:45pm at the AECOM offices in Fortitude Valley, with likely social drinks after 5:00pm
- NSW/ACT Quarterly Meeting — Thursday 14 August from 10:00am to 3:30pm at the Mercure Hotel near Central Station, with after-meeting drinks at the Mercure Platform 818 Bar.
In early June, I had the pleasure of attending the Stormwater Victoria (SWVic) Annual Conference at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre in north-eastern Victoria. Although the focus of this event was on urban stormwater, there was plenty of overlap with flood risk management and so it was highly relevant to FMA. Thanks to Alice Lisitsa, President of SWVic, and the SWVic Committee members, who acknowledged FMA and the development of our ongoing
partnership between FMA and SWVic over the past year. Numerous people came up to me and commented on how much they enjoyed the FMA Conference in Melbourne as well as our joint seminar on the 2024 Climate Change Update to Australian Rainfall and Runoff held in February in
Melbourne - I was asked several times when the next joint event will be! Stay tuned for more information on this in the coming months. The SWVic Conference was a great opportunity for me to learn more about key issues, policy and guidance in flood risk management in Victoria. Here is
a snapshot of some key documents referred to at the conference.
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The Flood Management Strategy: Port Phillip and Western
Port — 2021-2031, prepared by Melbourne Water, is a key guiding document for flood risk management in the 13,000 square kilometre Port Phillip and Western Port region in and surrounding Melbourne. The region extends from high in the
Yarra Ranges to the east, Ballan in the west, Lancefield in the north, and Mornington Peninsula, and Phillip and French Islands in the south. The region encompasses 38 local government areas. The population of Greater Melbourne was around 5 million in 2018 and is expected to increase to 9 million by 2056. It is estimated there are over 200,000 properties across the region that have at least a 1% chance of flooding each year and the annual average damage caused by flooding in the region has been
estimated at $735.5 million.
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Victoria’s Climate Science Report 2024 (VCSR24), prepared by Victoria Department of Energy, Environment and Climate
Action (DEECA), summarises the best available scientific evidence on climate for Victoria. It builds on the first Victoria’s Climate Science Report 2019 (VCSR19), which remains a
relevant component of the evidence base. VCSR24 is a statutory requirement under the Victorian Climate Change Act, 2017, where a report is required every 5 years. VCSR24 is promoted as an appropriate ‘first port of call’ for most decision-makers. In addition to a summary of projections, it includes contextual
information about climate change and information on climate hazards, such as flood, heatwaves, drought, bushfire and sea level rise. It notes that ‘Decision-makers must account for uncertainty in using climate change projections. They can do this by using multiple future climate scenarios. Climate scenarios encompass both the uncertainty in emissions and the uncertainty in climate changes that arise from them’.
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The Water is Life Traditional Owner Access to Water Roadmap 2022, was prepared by the then Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) (now DEECA). To prepare the document, the Victorian Government worked with Traditional Owners with the aim to improve their access to water and their involvement in water management. The Water is Life document provides an important framework to create and maintain a careful and considered balance between Traditional Owner
self-determination in water access and management, and the rights and entitlements of a range of stakeholders. It sets out clear pathways to increase Traditional Owner resourcing for and role in the care and management of water landscapes, which includes floodplains across Victoria. Section A of the document sets
out the Victorian Government commitments and policy pathways, while Section B comprises the Nation Statements (stories and historical records) submitted by around 27 First Nations and Traditional Owner groups across Victoria. Sue Ribbons FMA President
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GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO REVIEW OF THE NSW RECONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY ACT
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The NSW Reconstruction Authority was established in December 2022 following the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry. The enabling Act required that a statutory review be undertaken to determine whether: (a) the
policy objectives of the Act remain valid, and (b) the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing the objectives. FMA provided a
submission to the Joint Select Committee on the NSW Reconstruction Authority in May 2024, provided evidence to a Hearing of the Committee in August, and answered Supplementary Questions in September. The Committee released its report on the review in November 2024, finding that the
policy objectives of the Act are valid, but some clarification of roles and reporting would be of value. The NSW Government Response to the inquiry into Review is now available. All recommendations have been agreed, or agreed in principle. The Response is available at: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=3039
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FMA AT THE ASFPM CONFERENCE IN THE US
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The Association of State Floodplain Mangers Foundation and FMA generously sponsored the attendance of FMA Communications Director Catherine Walker and FMA Ambassador Allan Gear at the 49th Annual ASFPM Conference, which this year was held in New Orleans. Cath took the chance to take her toddler Margot and husband Jeremy to explore the bayou and get a first hand appreciation for the topography of New Orleans, which contributed to devastating flooding 20 years ago due to Hurricane Katrina. The conference was attended by about 1600 delegates from all over the US and
internationally. “It was interesting to see how we in Australia are dealing with all the same issues as our American counterparts – covering so much area means they’re also exposed to a similar range of types of flood risk, struggling with funding, dealing with floodplain
infrastructure and interacting with floodplain communities – it was like being at FMA but the scale of the conference and issues being explored was next level”, said Cath. We look forward to continuing the partnership between the FMA and ASFPM at next years’
conferences.
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FREE WEBINAR: INTRODUCTION TO FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
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The Australian Water School is hosting a free one-hour webinar introducing the core principles of floodplain risk management. Presenters Adam Berry (Synergy Solutions) and Catherine Walker (WMS Engineering) will introduce three key methods by which flood risk can be managed: - Modifying flood behaviour through structural works (such as levees, basins, pipe upgrades and channel modifications)
- Improving how communities prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding and a brief introduction to the Total Flood Warning System concept
- Sensible decision making for land use planning and development controls that reflect the flood risk in the region (without unnecessarily prohibiting or obstructing suitable development).
This webinar recognises that flood-prone land is a
valuable resource, and explores the ways in which communities can safely live, work and enjoy these areas by better understanding the risks and planning well for the next flood event. Date: 13 August Register at: https://awschool.com.au/training/intro-flood-risk-management/
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PIA TRAINING: FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
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Date: Tuesday 12 August Time: 9am-12.30pm Where: Teachers Federation House, Surry Hills Presenters: Catherine Walker, Director at WMS Engineering and Paul Grech, Director at GLN Planning. This session is aimed at equipping town planners to understand floodplain risk management considerations when assessing development applications and Planning Proposals, focused on the NSW planning system. The training will review how to properly address the statutory matters in LEPs and planning controls typically encountered in development control plans, and the relevant matters for consideration when reviewing a Planning Proposal. This will include an
introduction on how to understand flood mapping and demystifying terminology you might often hear from a flood engineer. The interplay between the planning system and the NSW flood risk management process will be discussed including relevant parts of the 2023 Flood Risk Management Manual and associated complementary Guides.
Register
online at https://www.planning.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=NPL120825
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UPCOMING EVENTS FROM OUR NEW ZEALAND CORRESPONDENT
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Sharyn Westlake, from Greater Wellington Regional Council in New Zealand, has alerted us to the following upcoming online webinars which may be of interest to readers: Catchment-scale Map Analysis to Identify and Prioritise Nature-Based Solutions 9 July, 10.00am Sydney To register https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UozSfIC4Q563mg2KLBp6wg Northland Regional Council, through a nature-based
solutions feasibility study, recognised that large-scale land use transition would be needed to see a significant reduction in flood levels. As a result, the project focused on developing a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) using available data to assess the suitability of
nature-based solutions. The MCA output identifies vulnerable locations in relation to instream erosion, steep slope erosion, and nutrient and pathogen pathways allowing the sub-catchment to be ranked. The new Fitzroy River Bridge Project 22 July, 12:00 noon Sydney Presenter: Sima Safarkhani, BG&E To register https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OncOm9w4T8CUkL7FK8-cvw Severe flooding from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie between December 2022 and January 2023 caused significant damage to the Great Northern Highway at Fitzroy Crossing in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. Recognising the critical importance of restoring this connection, Main Roads WA prioritised the construction of a new bridge and access roads within the shortest practical timeframe. The new Fitzroy River Bridge officially opened to traffic in December 2023, more than six months ahead of schedule. Beyond restoring critical infrastructure, the project leaves a lasting legacy of skills development, economic opportunities, and
strengthened resilience for the Fitzroy Crossing community. This project received the FMA-IAG Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award at the recent FMA National Conference. More information about Resilient River Communities’ programs is at: Development Programme | Resilient River Communities
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FMA - UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY FRM SHORT COURSE
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The Flood Risk Management Short Course commences shortly for 2025 and will again be offered in three blocks online - Introduction to Floodplain Risk Management, Managing Flood Risk to Existing Properties and Effective Consideration of Flood Risk in Land Use Planning. This course is conducted by the University of Technology, Sydney and is taught by industry professionals, including flood risk and emergency response management and land use planning experts from NSW Government, local government and consultancies. The course uses lectures and interactive tutorials to show how the development and
implementation of plans to manage flood risk can reduce the impacts of flooding on the community and the built environment. Course dates: Introduction to Floodplain Risk Management 3 Sessions, 4.5 hours total Dates: Thursday 31
July, Thursday 7 August and Thursday 14 August 2025
Cost: $550 This course teaches participants the main elements of floodplain risk management (FRM) – a process of
informed decision making in the strategic management of flood risk through an appropriate framework, including understanding flood behaviour in the catchment in its current condition, and by considering the long term development of the catchment; understanding of the variation in hazards across the floodplain and its different sources and the associated consequences for existing and future development; the assessment of options to manage flood risk to existing development through various
mitigation measures consistent with the government flood policy; the assessment of options to develop the floodplain that adequately considers flood hazards and behaviours, ensuring development extents and conditions are consistent with the maintenance of flood behaviours and the residual flood hazard and the objectives of the government flood policy. Register at https://open.uts.edu.au/faculty/engineering-and-information-technology/introduction-to-floodplain-risk-management-frm Managing Flood Risk to Existing Properties 2 Sessions, 3 hours total Dates: Thursday 2 October and Thursday 9 October 2025 Cost: $550 This course teaches participants how to manage flood risk to existing development – a process of informed decision making in the strategic management of flood risk through an appropriate consideration
of: - FRM issues for existing development,
- Role of FRM studies and plans in managing risk to existing development,
- Practical FRM options and associated decision making and implementation issues,
- Determining the appropriate option for particular situations,
- Considering the environmental impacts of works and other management
options
- Typical approvals necessary for mitigation work projects,
- Emergency response planning for, and response to, floods; and
- Implementation of management plans.
Register at https://open.uts.edu.au/faculty/engineering-and-information-technology/managing-flood-risk-to-existing-properties Effective Consideration of Flood Risk in Land Use Planning 3 Sessions, 4.5 hours total Dates: Thursday 28 August, Thursday 4 September and Thursday 11 September 2025 Cost: $550 This course teaches participants effective land use management in floodplain risk management (FRM) – a process of informed decision making in the strategic management of flood
risk through an appropriate consideration of: - FRM issues for future development & Information on the current legislation and policy framework
- The role of FRM studies and plans in managing risk to future development
- Practical FRM options for future development and associated duty of care issues
- Interaction of FRM and emergency management with strategic and development scale land use planning; and
- Effectively implementing recommendations through land use planning.
Register at https://open.uts.edu.au/faculty/engineering-and-information-technology/effective-consideration-of-flood-risk-in-land-use-planning The Short Course is aimed at
engineers, emergency managers and land use planners who are engaged in, or seeking to enter, the floodplain risk management industry in Australia and wanting to learn more about developing and implementing management plans considering best practice. It is also suitable for elected local government officials and community representatives on floodplain risk management committees seeking a background in floodplain risk management, flood mitigation, emergency management and land use planning
issues.
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YFM MONTHLY FEATURE
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CALLING ALL YFM MEMBERS TO COMPLETE OUR SURVEY: Are you a YFM or know someone with 0-15yrs experiences? Then we want to hear from you! One reason for the existence of the YFM network is to represent and empower early career professionals in the floodplain management industry. We can't do this without knowing what's important to YFMs, which is why we're surveying our membership for the first time. The survey covers topics like work hours, mentoring and training, current challenges, well-being and aspirations. We’ve given it several tests runs and it should only take 10mins to complete! Link to the survey: https://tinyurl.com/ceuykzhf
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YFM NSW SPEED MENTORING NIGHT – 19th June 2025 On 19th June 2025, NSW YFM hosted its first mentoring event, “NSW YFM Speed Mentoring
Night”. This was to give opportunities to YFM members who want to connect with more experienced flood management practitioners, learn more about their rich career experiences and ask for their great advice. For a successful mentoring event, we looked and reached out to 10 FMA members who worked
in different roles, sectors and play an important role in floodplain management. On the night, our mentors engaged with 16 YFM mentees and the mentees asked great questions about their experiences and asked for career tips. Thank you to FMA for sponsoring this successful event and
thank you to our mentors who gave their time to meet with our YFM mentees! Following the success of this event, we hope this speed mentoring event will lead to a future mentoring program. See pictures below from the night! |
POSITIONS VACANT
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No current vacancies.
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TRAVELLING CONFERENCE SWAG
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Pictured: A froggy FMA enthusiast wearing their Cap at the Australian Reptile Park. Have you got a photo of your
FMA Swag?
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