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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT |
An independent review has found that Queensland’s disaster response system coped well with Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March this year.
The review by the Inspector-General
Emergency Management, Iain MacKenzie, was very positive with only 18 recommendations to improve future responses, including a recommendation that local authorities be given greater control over emergency alerts, and that planning and training for the emergency alerts system be stepped up.
Councils within the review
focus areas were commended for a raft of good practice actions including a probabilistic modelling initiative in Townsville to inform potential storm surge impact; a lessons management program in Isaac; preparedness activities in Mackay and Whitsunday; and relief and recovery work in Scenic Rim, Logan and the Gold Coast.
It is pleasing to see such high level recognition being given to all those involved in the event. Equally, it should be remembered that the planning for such events starts with a very wide range of people all doing their jobs beforehand:-
- practitioners carrying out flood studies and identifying management options,
- planners considering land use planning options,
- local Councillors and state agencies making funding
decisions
- the Bureau of Meteorology developing models and warning systems
- Emergency Services preparing response plans and evacuation plans
- State agencies and local councils dealing with the recovery and clean up after the event when the TV cameras have long gone
All of this “behind the scenes” work happens while the sun is shining and the flooding is over.
The people undertaking all of this work are very much deserving of recognition as the successful management of disasters depends very much on the research and planning carried out between floods.
Well
done to Queensland and well done to everyone involved in floodplain management across Australia. It’s what FMA stands for.
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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Floodplain Management Australia will be meeting twice in the month of November:
Queensland Chapter Meeting on 15 November in Brisbane
NSW/ACT Chapter
Meeting on 23 November in Sydney
As usual, the Meetings will be preceded by a short networking period, and after business has concluded, will break for lunch. A light lunch will be provided, followed by the afternoon’s Workshop.
The Meetings provide not only useful updates on current
flood risk management issues, but also allow you to network with other professionals in our industry.
Further details of the Meetings will be sent out with the Business Papers in the coming weeks, and in the Members’ Section of floods.org.au. |
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW FMA MEMBERS |
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This month, FMA would like to welcome two new Professional Members to our Membership.
We do not circulate the names of our Professional, Individual and Student Members, but you know who you are.
Both new Members have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the flood risk management industry, and will be familiar faces to those that attend our conferences and events throughout the year.
Welcome both of you, we look forward to working with you over the coming year.
You may not know that Professional, Individual and Student Members make up around 25% of our Membership, and contribute a great deal to our meetings and conferences.
FMA Members receive a number of benefits during their Membership, including Conference Registration Discounts.
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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS CLOSED |
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Call for Abstracts for the 2018 Floodplain Management Australia Conference at Gold Coast officially closed on 30 October.
Thank you to all who have taken the time to prepare and submit an abstract as per the guidelines.
The Committee called for a range of high quality presentations dealing with riverine, overland and flash flooding, and coastal inundation.
We have received over 100 abstracts to be reviewed by the Abstract Review Committee, and with a selection of these making up the majority of the Conference program next year, delegates can be assured of a
high-quality and informative event next year.
Make sure you register your place now to ensure you receive the Early Bird
Discount! |
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RISK FRONTIERS BRIEFING NOTE 355 |
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FMA Corporate Member Risk Frontiers has released its Briefing Note 355 Have We Increased our Vulnerability to Big Floods by Chas Keys.
The Briefing Note provides an in-depth discussion on flood mitigation and community vulnerability, with reference to observations made by US
sociologist Shirley Laska from the University of New Orleans.
‘Laska argues that decisions and actions taken over three centuries had reduced the vulnerability of the city of New Orleans to small and moderate floods but increased its vulnerability to very large ones.'
The Briefing Note
compares the American situation with an Australian case study, and you can read it in its entirety at https://riskfrontiers.com/
Risk Frontiers prepares these Notes on a variety of natural hazard issues and you can view them all at their website https://riskfrontiers.com
If you or your organisation has a project that may be of interest to FMA Members, please contact Dominique Jovanovic projectservices@floods.org.au.
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UN ENVIRONMENT ONLINE COURSE |
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UN Environment has relaunched its Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) on Disasters and Ecosystems: Resilience in a Changing Climate. The course is available at no cost, is self-paced and accessible anywhere in the world online. The course was first launched in 2015 with more than 12,000
participants, and is being relaunched with revised materials and videos. The MOOC explores the interlinkages between ecosystems, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It aims to enhance knowledge and skills for tackling complex issues such as resilience and transformation, sustainable development, ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and how they can be
operationalized. For more information on the Course, visit the UN Environment Courses webpage. |
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2018 CONFERENCE TRADE + SPONSORS |
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Are you interested in increasing your brand exposure to hundreds of flood risk practitioners? How about making lasting networking connections with like-minded professionals? Do you have some new cutting-edge technology that you want to introduce to decision-makers in the industry?
Opportunities for Sponsorship and Trade Exhibition at the 2018 Floodplain Management Australia National Conference at Gold Coast are now becoming available. The Conference runs 29 May – 1 June 2018 and will attract over 350 attendees from the flood risk management and disaster reduction industries.
Past sponsors of FMA Conferences include the Insurance Council of Australia,
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, WMA Water, NSW State Emergency Service, HDR Engineering and Surface Water Solutions to name a few.
Don’t miss your opportunity at our next Conference, and contact the East Coast Conferences’ Amy McIntosh Amy@ |
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CANADIAN 'DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE' RECOMMENDATIONS |
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Larry Larson, well-known colleague at the US Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), has drawn our attention to a recommendation by Canada’s University of Waterloo for a standard for new flood resilient residential communities.
Research by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
(ICCA) identified 20 best practices aimed at designing and building more flood resilient communities. ICCA reports that 1.7 million Canadian households are at risk of riverine and overland flooding.
The report Preventing Disaster Before it Strikes: Developing a Canadian Standard for Flood-Resilient
Residential Communities contains a comparison of existing guidelines and policies used across Canada, and recommendations concerning location and design of new buildings and infrastructure. The recommendations include that “safety factors” should be used in new community design to account for potentially more frequent and severe rainfall and stormwater system failures.
Mr Larson said that
“these are good, common sense principles that any nation could use.”
The report makes interesting reading and it is available on the ICCA website here. Or read a discussion of the report in the Canadian Underwriter here. |
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WATER TECHNOLOGY JOINED BY AWE |
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FMA Corporate Member Water Technology has announced that Adelaide-based company Australian Water Environments (AWE) has joined them this month.
FMA Members may recognise Water Technology as the organisation responsible for producing the popular, seasonal e-publication Waterlines and providing informative Conference presentations at past FMA Conferences and nominees for FMA Excellence Awards.
Andrew
Telfer, Director and co-founder of AWE, said “The joining of Water Technology and Australian Water Environments is a great cultural fit for both organisations. Like-minded values, operating approaches and synergies of capability and technical excellence are important elements when considering bringing two organisations together."
"In this case these factors were paramount. The two proven expert teams combine a broad range of water management skills and capabilities and provide our clients with a nationally distributed, holistic and integrated team of professionals" said Mr Telfer.
Has your organisation gone through a big change, have you moved or simply changed roles? Either way, keep us in the loop by staying in touch.
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IGEM'S TROPICAL CYCLONE DEBBIE REVIEW |
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The Queensland Inspector-General Emergency Management (IGEM), Iain MacKenzie AFSM, has presented his Office’s report into the effectiveness of the disaster management system in response to Tropical Cyclone Debbie to the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
The 135 page report
The Cyclone Debbie Review - Lessons for delivering value and confidence through trust and empowerment covers the preparedness for and responses to the North Queensland cyclone and flooding, the South East Queensland rapid-onset flooding and the Rockhampton slow-onset flooding.
The report states “What we found was a disaster management system that generally performed well in preparing for and
responding to the Debbie event, and one which adopted a positive transition to recovery."
"What we uncovered was a series of lessons for the disaster management sector, which, if acted on, will deliver greater public value and confidence.”
The report will be discussed at the upcoming FMA
Queensland Chapter Meeting in Brisbane on Wednesday 15 November.
To read the full report, visit the Inspector General Emergency Management website here. |
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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS |
FMA Queensland Chapter Meeting, 17 November, Brisbane
FMA NSW/ACT Chapter
Meeting, 23 November, Sydney
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Floodplain Engineer - Project Officer Shoalhaven City
Council
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Pictured (from left): Conrad Barr and Tracey Allen (ACT Government) at Shoalhaven for 2016 FMA Conference.
Where has your cap been?
Send us your photos. |
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