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NEXT FMA MEETING FMA May QM and AGM Thursday, 21 May 2015 at the FMA National Conference, Brisbane. FMA Members! Your attendance is needed at the FMA Annual General Meeting to be held in Brisbane on 21 May. Your Executive Committee is recommending important changes to the FMA Constitution, which
require a quorum of Full Members. We need your vote for the FMA to continue its growth as the national voice for flood risk management. |
Meet the New FMA Executive-Elect |
Nominations for the election of FMA Office-bearers closed on 21 April. As one nomination was received for each position the following nominees are elected: Ian Dinham, Larry Bolitho, Danny Rose and Paul Grech will retain their current positions and Mariana Cidade and Con de Groot will take up duty at the conclusion of the May Annual General Meeting.
Executive Officer Glenn Evans offered his congratulations and appreciation to all nominees for volunteering for these important roles. Mr Evans said we have an excellent team with a wealth of knowledge and experience to take the FMA forward over the next two years, particularly in Queensland.
Retiring Communications Director Brooke O'Rourke, who was instrumental in developing positive
links between FMA Members and the insurance industry on flood insurance issues, did not nominate but will continue to contribute to FMA activities behind the scenes. |
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Ian Dinham Chairperson Moree Plains Shire Council Ian is a previous FMA Technical Director, during which time he initiated the development of the FMA-OEH Floodplain
Risk Management Short Course at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he also lectures each year. Ian has served as Chairperson since 2011.
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Larry Bolitho OAM Deputy Chairperson FMA Individual
Member Larry has been a delegate for the FMA for over 20 years and has served as Deputy Chairperson since 2011. Larry has represented the FMA in numerous delegations to NSW and Australian government Ministers, as well as industry meetings, forums and conferences.
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Danny Rose Technical Director Tweed Shire Council Danny has served as Technical Director since 2013. Danny has been a
frequent presenter at FMA Conferences, workshops and meetings, and was Chair of the Program Advisory Committee and member of the Organising Committee for the FMA's first National Conference hosted by Tweed Shire.
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Paul Grech Land Use Planning Director GLN Planning Paul has served as Land Use Planning Director since 2013. Paul has also authored numerous papers on the topic of integrating flood risk management into land use planning systems. One of Paul's roles includes delivering the planning component of the FMA-OEH FRM Short Course.
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Mariana Cidade Communications Director Insurance Australia Group (IAG) Mariana is taking over from IAG colleague Brooke O'Rourke (outgoing Communications
Director). Mariana has a vast experience in communications and public relations, as well as a great enthusiasm for flood matters.
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Con de Groot Queensland Director Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Con is Project Director, Planning and Property Group of the QLD DILGP, where he manages the Brisbane River Flood
Study. The DILGP has been actively supporting the FMA's growth into Queensland, and assisted by hosting our February Meeting of the Queensland Chapter.
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Allan Ezzy APM AM Immediate Past Chairman FMA Life Member Allan served as FMA Chairman from 1999-2011 when he
decided not to renominate for the position. Allan has been awarded Life Membership of the FMA, and this year has had an FMA Excellence Award established in his name.
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This month we’d like to welcome two Corporate Members to the FMA fold, BMT WBM and Hydrata.
BMT WBM has always had a very strong presence at FMA events and conferences, and our Members should be familiar with them. BMT WBM has a long and reputable history of undertaking flood studies and floodplain risk management studies with more than 40 years
industry experience. For more information on BMT WBM, visit www.bmtwbm.com.
Hydrata is an early stage start up company developing a collaboration platform for project owners, engineers, and the public to share water data, calculations and maps. For more information on Hydrata, visit www.hydrata.com. |
2015 FMA Excellence Awards Nominees |
We have received some outstanding nominations for the 2015 FMA Excellence Awards, in both categories.
FMA NRMA Insurance Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award - Bundaberg Regional Council: Burnett River Floodplain Action Plan
- Brisbane City Council: Flood Information Online /
Flood Awareness Maps
- Richmond River County Council: Integrated Flood Information and Emergency Website
- The City of Newcastle: Newcastle City Wide Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (CWFRMP)
Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year Award - Cathy Kinsey Campbelltown City
Council
- Greg McMahon Professional FMA Member
- Mayor Cr Margaret Strelow Rockhampton Regional Council
- Mystery Nominee Is this you? Have you been secretly nominated?
Each of these entries showcase commendable dedication to the principles of best practice flood risk
management.
The Awards will be presented at the FMA Conference Dinner in Brisbane, so make sure you come along to help us celebrate the incredible work of FRM professionals from around Australia.
*Also, at the FMA booth this year there will be a short booklet on the 2015 Excellence Award nominations for you to peruse at your leisure. Make sure you stop by and pick one up. |
FMA National Conference Update |
This will be the last Flyer before we see you all at the FMA Conference, and we are SO EXCITED! We can hardly wait for the 19th May to get down to business. The FMA Conference is the biggest event in our calendar each year, and we hope that you’re looking forward to it as much as we are.
This year will be the most outstanding conference yet – as you know we have
over 70 oral presentations lined up, two exceptional international keynote speakers, poster presentations, a selection of educational field trips, the Harold Sternbeck Medal, the return of the FMA Excellence Awards and so many networking opportunities they will make your head spin!
The spacious Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, home to the 2014 G20 Summit, allows us to stage our largest ever trade display. Experience the latest developments in flood protection
equipment and monitoring and mapping systems, and learn first-hand about services offered by expert consultants and government agencies.
So far, we have had around 300 delegates register for the four day event. So if you haven’t registered yet, get in quick to make sure you get your choice of the field trips. We hope to see you there.
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New South Wales Superstorm |
Last week saw the Hunter Region of New South Wales take a beating from what has been dubbed a 'superstorm'; the most ferocious weather event since the June 2007 floods. The Dungog region took the brunt of the storm on 21 April, with an incredible amount of damage caused in a short amount of time and three lives lost.
As a result of the storm, numerous lower Hunter towns were
isolated, the New England Highway and Sydney to Brisbane rail line cut, over 200,000 homes were left without power, trees were upended and hundreds of properties flooded – even FMA HQ was not immune to the storms, losing power and internet for several days.
NSW Regional Hydrology Manager from the Bureau of Meteorology, Gordon McKay, said 117 millimetres of rain fell at Dungog between 5am and 6am - 1.7 times the 1% AEP for
Dungog.
NSW State Emergency Service conducted its biggest response operation in the history of the Service, receiving over 20,000 calls for assistance from various parts of NSW. 169 flood rescues were conducted.
Retired Army Officer Brigadier Darren Naumann has been appointed Regional Recovery Coordinator.
This event serves as a tragic reminder of the need for smarter and more responsible
flood risk management in New South Wales. The destruction caused by these storms will continue until we start giving priority to wiser land use planning and flood mitigation in our communities.
FMA Chairman, Ian Dinham, said the graphic images of flooded homes being washed away last week are a classic case of buildings being approved in the wrong place. Australia needs to ensure these kinds of building approvals never happen again. To do this, government and
practitioners must work together to integrate best practice flood risk management into our planning schemes.
Were you affected by the New South Wales storms? We would love to hear your story. Contact projectservices@floods.org.au and let us know how you handled
the natural disaster. |
Media Release: FMA Congratulates NSW Ministers |
Australia’s national network of flood professionals congratulates the Hon. Mark Speakman, the Hon. Rob Stokes and the Hon. David Elliot on their recent appointments to the Ministries of Environment, Planning and Emergency Services, respectively.
Floodplain Management Association (FMA) Chairman Ian Dinham, said each of these Ministers have important responsibilities in the areas of flood risk
management.
“The FMA looks forward to working closely with the Ministers in the coming years” Mr Dinham said.
“We have worked with Minister Stokes in his previous position as Minister for the Environment, and we will be building on this relationship to assist the NSW Government in progressing its Planning Policy for Natural Hazards.
“The FMA considers sound land use planning essential to guide appropriate use of
floodplains and to avoid placing communities in areas of unacceptable flood risk.
“The FMA is developing a Land Use Planning Policy Statement which will be finalised at the National FMA Conference in Brisbane in May.”
The FMA is committed to promoting appropriate development within floodplain areas, and helping reduce the risks of flooding to life and property.
FMA Members include over 120 councils, catchment management
authorities, businesses, and professionals involved in all aspects of urban and rural floodplain risk management.
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City of Launceston Flood Awareness Video |
The City of Launceston has developed a flood awareness video about the devastating flooding of the region in 1929, which is available on YouTube.
Flooding at the time inundated large parts of Invermay and Inveresk, as well as other low lying areas of the city. More than 4,000 Northern Tasmanians were left homeless by the floods, and it took years for the city to
recover.
The video is a community awareness project using recent technology to reach its residents, with about 4% of the population having already viewed the video since it was uploaded on 1 April.
You can view the video at
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POSITIONS VACANT
As a service to our Members we welcome information on career opportunities in the area of floodplain management.
No Current Vacancies
If you are interested in promoting a vacant position with us,
contact us. Thanks for reading, and see you at the Conference! |
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