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| FLYER ISSUE 1: JANUARY 2026 | |
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Welcome to the January edition of the Floodplain Management Australia (FMA) Monthly Flyer. As we launch into another busy year,
I can imagine that your calendars are filling up fast. It’s also a busy time for FMA events, so now is a good time to remind you to put some FMA dates in your calendar, with more details later in this Flyer: - QLD Quarterly Meeting and Workshop — Wednesday 11 February 2026,
12:00pm to 4:30pm (AEST) — Brisbane (Pullman Hotel, corner of Ann and Roma Streets, Brisbane) — with the afternoon workshop starting at 2:45pm AEST entitled ‘Resilient Kurilpa - a story of community led flood resilience’
- NSW/ACT Quarterly Meeting and Workshop — Thursday 19 February 2026, 10:00am to 3:30pm (AEDT) — Sydney (Mercure Sydney Hotel) —
with an afternoon workshop starting at 1:30pm entitled ‘Flood Terminology — how do we avoid confusion and get the message right?’ led by Professor Amisha Mehta from QUT to provide an overview of the NHRA project she is leading on Flood Risk Communication.
- FMA and Stormwater Victoria Joint Technical Event - Flood Impacts: A National Industry Leaders
Forum — Thursday 26 February 2026, 3:30pm — Beca Office Event Space, Melbourne Quarter Tower, Level 23, 695 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008. — Following the sellout success of the first joint FMA / Stormwater Victoria event on the new ARR Climate Change Guideline last February, we are excited to announce the next joint Technical Event on 26 February 2026. Stormwater Victoria, in collaboration with FMA, will convene an in-person panel discussion exploring how flood impacts are
defined, assessed and managed across Australia. The session is being held following the recent release of Melbourne Water’s Flood Impact (Afflux) Practice Note (Floodplain Development Impact Assessment).
- FMA 2026 National Conference, Gold Coast QLD — Tuesday 21 April to Friday 24 May 2026 — Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
(GCCEC). The review of abstracts is essentially complete and so by the time of our Quarterly Meetings, successful authors will have been notified. Our program is looking great. Registrations are open and so
another date for your diary is the Early Bird Deadline of Friday 6 March 2026.
2026 FMA Excellence Awards
2026 FMA National Conference — Gold Coast — 21 to 24 April 2026 A key objective of FMA is to recognise and promote excellence in flood risk management. The FMA Annual National Conference is our opportunity to recognise, promote and showcase excellence in flood risk management in so many ways. The FMA Annual Excellence Awards are the pinnacle of this excellence with three prestigious awards that celebrate champions and outstanding projects in flood risk management: - FMA-IAG Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award
- Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year Award
- FMA-IAG Flood Risk Management
Project of the Year Award.
I am sure that all of us are aware of someone who we have worked with, who is ‘a really excellent’ flood risk manager. So start thinking now. We will be calling for nominations for our 3 FMA Excellence Awards for 2026 very soon. So please visit floods.asn.au/ea on Friday 6 February and think about
nominating one of those excellent flood risk managers and flood risk management projects. Sue Ribbons FMA
President
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EXCELLENCE AWARDS OPEN SOON + IAG SPONSOR ANNOUNCEMENT
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We are delighted to announce that IAG will again be sponsoring the Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award and the Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award. Insurance Australia Group (IAG) is the largest general insurance company in Australia and New Zealand. IAG first supported the Project of the Year Award in 2014. It’s time to start preparing your nominations for the
2026 Excellence Awards: - FMA - IAG Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award
- FMA - Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year Award
- FMA - IAG Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award.
The Excellence Awards will recognise outstanding contributions to flood risk management by an FMA Member organisation, or an Individual, Professional or
Student FMA Member, or person employed by an FMA Member organisation. Nominations for the Excellence Awards will open 6 February, and close on 27 February. Finalists will be showcased at the Gala Award Ceremony at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre during the FMA National Conference. Details will be at the FMA
website: floods.asn.au/ea
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JUST 11 WEEKS UNTIL THE GOLD COAST FMA CONFERENCE
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FMA’s 12th National Conference is just 11 weeks away, from 21 to 24 April, and early registrations are available until 6 March. The
theme of the Conference is “From Risk to Resilience: Advancing Flood Management”, exploring the movement of flood risk management from the reactive repair and recovery cycle towards informed, resilience-driven strategies, policies and mitigation projects. With a
record 200 presentation abstracts received this will be the most comprehensive FMA Conference to date! A special thank you goes to sponsors who have confirmed so far: FMA Excellence Awards Sponsor FMA-IAG Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award FMA-IAG Young Floodplain Manager of the Year Award Silver Sponsors Water Technology HARC NSW State Emergency Service Bronze Sponsors Haskoning - Conference Dinner WMAwater - Casual Dinner Coffee Cart - AQX Solutions Conference App - JBP scientists and engineers Stationery Sponsor Allan & Dennis Lanyard Sponsor Rhelm Charging Station Sponsor BG&E 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 the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, for four days of inspiring discussion, enlightening technical tours, valuable networking and memorable social events from 21 to 24 April. For the latest Conference information and to register please see: https://floodplainconference.com
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REGISTER NOW FOR FEBRUARY FMA MEETINGS IN BRISBANE AND SYDNEY
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Registrations are now open for our upcoming Meetings in February: Wednesday 11 February 2026 - Brisbane
Add this event to your Calendar
Workshop: Resilient Kurilpa - a story of community led flood resilience Resilient Kurilpa is a community-led,
volunteer-run disaster resilience initiative based in the Kurilpa Peninsula of Brisbane (West End, South Brisbane and Highgate Hill). Formed after the 2022 floods, the network brings together residents, neighbourhood organisations, apartment communities, and experts to build local capacity for flood preparedness, response, and recovery. In 2023-24, with
joint funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments, Resilient Kurilpa delivered a program that engaged over 500 residents directly and thousands more online. Register now online at fma-febqld.eventbrite.com.au
Thursday 19 February 2026 - Sydney
Add this event to your Calendar
Workshop: Flood Terminology - how do we avoid confusion and get the message right?
Professor Amisha Mehta from the
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) will provide an overview of the Natural Hazards Research Australia project she is leading on Flood Risk Communication. A Q&A Panel Session with industry experts will follow.
Register now online at fma-nswfeb2026.eventbrite.com.au Please come along and hear the latest from our Executive Committee, industry experts, agency representatives and catch up with your flood
connection colleagues.
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FLOOD IMPACTS: A NATIONAL INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM
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When: Thursday 26 February 2026, 3:30pm registration for a 4:00pm start Where: Beca Office Event Space, Melbourne Quarter Tower, Level 23, 695 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008 Overview: Stormwater Victoria, in collaboration with FMA, is convening a panel discussion exploring how flood impacts are defined, assessed and managed across Australia.
The session is being held following the recent release of Melbourne Water’s Flood Impact (Afflux) Practice Note, which provides an important reference point for Victorian practice. Drawing on perspectives from multiple states, the discussion will compare different approaches to flood impact assessment and unpack the considerations that guide them — including afflux, flood hazard, duration, safety, changes in flood
behaviour, flood protection, and the health of receiving waterways. This forum is intended as an open, discussion-based session rather than a technical training or policy briefing. It aims to encourage open, informed dialogue across the industry, surface real-world challenges,
highlight similarities and differences in flood management across jurisdictions and support improved and consistent approaches to managing flood impacts. Key Themes:
The purpose and
role of flood impact assessment in floodplain management How different states and jurisdictions approach flood impact assessment Interpreting flood impact measures, such as afflux Recent guidance and evolving practice, including Victorian developments Balancing flood risk outcomes with planning and development pressures Who should attend: If you deal with flood impact decisions in the real world — or have ever debated afflux, uncertainty, acceptable risk or development pressure — this session is for
you. Designed for floodplain, stormwater and planning professionals across government, consulting and water authorities, the forum brings together diverse prospectives from across Australia to explore emerging practice, professional judgement and what better flood impact assessment looks like beyond a single jurisdiction. Registration: Register via Stormwater Victoria website from Thursday 5 February 2026
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APPLYING THE FLOOD IMPACT (AFFLUX) PRACTICE NOTE: WEBINAR
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Date: Friday 13th Feb, 2026 Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Venue: Zoom Online Event Organiser: Stormwater Victoria/ Melbourne Water Phone: 02 9744 5252 Email: registration@gemsevents.com.au Ticket URL: www.stormwatervictoria.com.au/ Description: Melbourne Water has updated its approach to assessing development applications in flood-prone areas to balance flood risk mitigation with responsible urban growth. The Flood Impact (Afflux) Practice Note introduces a risk-based approach for evaluating offsite flood level impacts where
zero‑afflux cannot be achieved, while upholding the principle of no detrimental impact to nearby properties. This online training session will provide a clear and practical introduction to Melbourne Water’s risk‑based framework for assessing offsite flood impacts,
including: - When and how to apply the Practice Note
- Key assessment steps and data requirements
- Case studies
illustrating common development scenarios
- Live Q&A with technical specialists
This training is ideal for planners, engineers, developers, consultants and councils working on development applications in flood-prone
areas.
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GREAT OCEAN ROAD FLASH FLOODS PROVIDES REMINDER OF FLOOD DANGERS
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Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) has released a discussion paper on the flash flooding that occurred along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road on 15 January. According to NHRA, a rain gauge in the Mt Cowley area west of Lorne recorded more than 175mm of rainfall in six hours. Catchments along the Great Ocean Road are small and steep with narrow floodplains making them susceptible to flash flooding. The regional flood strategy identifies the risk of flash flooding to caravan parks in the area. A large flood had occurred in 1985 when 40 caravans were washed into the sea at Wye River. The river had been said to have risen more than a metre in 30 minutes. The impacts this time could have been much worse, and are a reminder how dangerous flash flooding can be. Read the full article at: https://www.naturalhazards.com.au/news-and-events/news-and-views/great-ocean-road-flash-floods-provide-reminder-flood-dangers
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FROM OUR NEW ZEALAND CORRESPONDENT
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Our New Zealand Resilient River Communities colleagues are holding the following webinar which may be of interest to FMA Members: Strategic National Approach to Flood Risk Management 12 February 2026, 09:00 am in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney Presenter: Graeme
Campbell, Principal Advisor Flood Risk Management, Te Uru Kahika The webinar will cover the sector’s journey to strengthen flood risk management, with a particular focus on building long-term investment partnerships with government and outlining the key steps to achieve
this. Register online now at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wbzvfpIuQQiLE4mOzudGkA#/registration
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YFM MONTHLY FEATURE
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The FMA Young Floodplain Managers (YFM) network exists to represent, engage, and inspire young floodplain management professionals across Australia.
The objectives of the YFM are to: - collaborate and share knowledge through networking opportunities, mentorships with industry leaders, professional development workshops and events, and social media platforms and forums where YFMs can discuss key issues and share innovative ideas
- inspire and empower YFMs to share new ideas and engage in industry discussions
- connect YFMs from across the public and private sectors as well as other young professional groups; and
- promote gender equality and diversity in all YFM activities and the broader industry.
Any floodplain manager is welcome to apply if committed to the objectives of the YFM. 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. Find out more about YFM and upcoming YFM events at the YFM Linkedin page here.
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POSITIONS VACANT
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No current vacancies.
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TRAVELLING CONFERENCE SWAG
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Pictured: FMA Deputy President Danny Rose in Amsterdam with his FMA Conference beanie. Have you got a photo of your FMA Swag?
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