The NSW Parliament's Joint Select Committee on the NSW Reconstruction Authority is holding an inquiry into the Authority's response to the East Coast severe weather from May 2025, including the Mid North Coast floods.

The terms of reference include:

• The Authority's response to, and any changes or improvements to the operations of the Authority, following recent disasters
• The exercise of any planning powers in the affected region
• How the Authority and relevant agencies communicated to and engaged with affected communities in the delivery and design of reconstruction and preparedness efforts
• The effectiveness of any relevant preparedness and adaptation work by the Authority for the affected region before the disaster
• The application of any relevant funding under the Joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The complete terms of reference are on the Committee's webpage here.
 

Submissions close on Friday, 3 October 2025. 

The afternoon Workshop at the 5 November FMA Meeting in Brisbane will provide a pre-season focus on flood risk communication.

Flood professionals and behaviour change specialists share a vital goal: reducing risk and saving lives during extreme weather events. Yet, when technical expertise and communication efforts are not aligned, the result can be mixed messages and greater danger for communities. 

“Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Flood Risk Communication for Safer Communities” will explore how we can work together to deliver clear, consistent messaging - reinforcing trusted campaigns like “If it’s flooded, forget it” - and ultimately strengthen our collective impact on public safety.

The following presenters will form an expert panel and explore this theme:

• Daniel Sheehy (WRM) – will re-present his 2025 Harold Sternback Medal winning presentation, Floodways and flooded roads – are we sending mixed messages to drivers?
• Sally Mills Murray (QRA) – will discuss the ‘If its flooded, forget it’ campaign, its effectiveness and where to from here.
• Prof Amisha Mehta (QUT) – will provide an overview of organisational and community perspectives on flood planning and warning materials in terms of language, terminology, and colours.

Reserve Wednesday 5 November, 12:00 to 5:00 in your calendar now, for the FMA Queensland Chapter Quarterly Meeting and Workshop. 

More details and registration at the FMA website soon, and emailed direct to you if your email address is registered in FMA’s database. 

If you wish to be added to FMA’s contact list please email Project and Services Manager Dominique Evans: projectservices@floods.asn.au

1 October 2025 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm AEST

The Wianamatta South Creek catchment is undergoing significant transformation as part of the rapid development in Western Sydney, including the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Encompassing a major new city planned around the future Western Sydney International Airport, the catchment plays a central role in realising the NSW Government’s vision for the “Western Parkland City.”

This session will explore the importance of flood impact assessment and risk management in the context of large-scale urban development. With residential, commercial, research, and open space precincts planned within the catchment, integrated water and land use planning is essential to ensure long-term resilience, safety, and liveability.

To register, please see: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/event/2022/05/importance-considering-volume-flood-impact-assessment-69791cd3

Rachael Armstrong, from Hawke's Bay Regional Council in New Zealand, has advised us of the following online webinar which may be of interest to readers:

The feasibility of using nature-based solutions to address the flood risk to Masterton

7 October, 12:00pm NZDT

Greater Wellington Regional Council has investigated the feasibility of using nature-based solutions to manage the flood risk to Masterton from the Waipoua River. The work focused on four nature-based solutions: 

• land retirement and afforestation, 
• floodplain re-engagement, 
• small-scale distributed storage and 
• channel realignment/making room for the river. 

While flood risk reduction potential was the key focus, the many wider benefits nature-based solutions can provide were also a key consideration for this study. 

The study showed that while nature-based solutions are technically feasible for reducing flood peaks from large floods, implementation at a very large scale would be required, at a cost that would likely be hard to justify for flood reduction benefits alone. However, for many local stakeholders the wider benefits could be considered the primary benefit of nature-based solutions by providing for a wide range of ecological, social, and cultural values. 

To register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__uQwIxrRR5Cerc1kylp0wA

Hello from the YFM Committee!

As we cruise into the final quarter of the year, we hope you're keeping productive with exciting projects and gearing up for summer!

The YFM Committee has rounded up some fantastic events and resources for you in the upcoming weeks to help you boost your knowledge and network. We've got a practical TUFLOW Insiders Guide webinar, and a hands-on Abstract Writing Workshop coming up to get you ready for the 2026 FMA Conference. There are more renowned industrial events coming up, so be sure to check those out too!

Upcoming YFM-Hosted Events

These events are specifically organised by the YFM Committee to help you develop practical skills and contribute to the industry.

Modelling Smarter Not Harder: A TUFLOW Insiders Guide (Webinar)

YFM has partnered with TUFLOW to bring you this highly practical webinar! Learn simple tips and tricks to significantly boost your modelling efficiency. The session will cover how to streamline your workflows using the TUFLOW QGIS Plugin, Notepad++, and Python. Whether you’re a seasoned modeller or just starting out, you’ll leave with new time-saving strategies to build better models, faster. 

Date: Thursday, 2 October 2025 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm AEST

Format: Webinar

Presenter: Abigail Lillo, Flood Engineer at TUFLOW

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/modelling-smarter-not-harder-a-tuflow-insiders-guide-tickets-1713427992249?keep_tld=1

From Idea to Abstract — Let’s Make It Happen! (Hybrid Workshop)

Ready to take your research or project to the national stage? Join the NSW YFM Committee for this practical, hands-on workshop focused on developing a strong submission for the 2026 Floodplain Management Australia (FMA) Conference.

Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2025

In-person Location: KBR, 13/201 Kent St, Sydney NSW 2000

Time: 6 PM - 8 PM

What You'll Gain: Learn the essential elements of a successful abstract, get practical advice on how to structure your ideas, and understand what the reviewers are looking for.

Special Feature: Hear insider tips and ask questions during a lively panel discussion with seasoned industry professionals and FMA Conference presenters.

Your Next Step: Turn that spark of inspiration into a compelling presentation abstract!

This will be a hybrid event — we strongly encourage you to attend in person if you can, to make the most of the networking opportunities and interactive discussions. For those unable to join on-site, an online meeting link will be shared closer to the date.

No current vacancies.