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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT |
Welcome to another year with Floodplain Management Australia. Thank you for being here, for reading this Flyer and for getting involved with what FMA is doing. Our network is only as strong as our connections between our Members, so your presence and contributions are essential to our growth and stability.
This is going to be an exciting year for FMA, with a continually growing Membership, a national direction that is surging forward, the return of the FMA Excellence Awards and an informative Conference to be held at Gold Coast in May, to name a few key items.
I hope you have had some time over the December-January break to rest and recover from the incredibly hardworking year that was 2017. I see a great number of you at FMA Meetings throughout the year and get to hear of all of the great work you are putting in to make your communities safer. Your time and your dedication to flood risk management continues to move me, and I look
forward to another year sharing knowledge and achievements with you.
I hope to see you at our upcoming Meetings in Brisbane and Sydney this February.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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FMA PROVIDES SUBMISSION TO NORTHERN AUSTRALIA INSURANCE
INQUIRY |
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been requested by the Australian Government to investigate home, contents and strata insurance in northern Australia.
The inquiry is intended to help address concerns about insurance affordability, promote more
informed and more competitive insurance markets and make a difference for consumers in northern Australia.
FMA has provided a submission, noting the work of FMA’s Flood Insurance Working Group and discussing the benefits of sharing flood data, and the flood loss reductions that can result from investment in well-designed and maintained flood mitigation
infrastructure.
FMA holds the view that when insurers have access to high quality flood data premiums can be set to more accurately reflect the real risk.
Most Councils possess flood studies and mapping of varying degrees of accuracy and currency, which can assist insurers better understand flood
vulnerability.
Creating greater consistency between governments’ and insurers’ understanding of risk in a local community reduces confusion and debate and improves the ability of all stakeholders to work together.
The submission is available at the Floodplain Management Australia website, alongside all
other submissions made by FMA: floods.org.au/site/fma-submissions
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NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF ARRANGEMENTS - YOUR VIEWS? |
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Members may be aware of the forthcoming Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to replace the current Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) on 1 July 2018.
It is understood that these arrangements will include funding for Council plant and day
labour following a Declared Natural Disaster, provided local Councils are the most efficient means of delivering the recovery work. This is in line with the previous advice from Federal Justice Minister, the Hon. Michael Keenan, to FMA in November 2016 and during FMA President Ian Dinham’s meeting with the Minister in June last year.
This will end a long-standing problem for Councils where the
cost of plant and day labour during “normal” working hours was ineligible for reimbursement despite the fact that the work was the result of the Declared Natural Disaster.
Each state will be undertaking consultation with local Councils leading up to the finalisation of the new arrangements. Mr Dinham is scheduled to meet with the NSW Department of Justice regarding the arrangements on 7
February.
“I am keen to learn of any issues from Members in all states and territories for future discussions” Mr Dinham said. “We will only get one chance at participating in the feedback process for the new DRFA.”
Please advise Mr Dinham of your natural disaster relief issues, either directly,
or via Executive Officer Glenn Evans at:eo@floods.org.au |
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This month FMA would like to welcome two new Corporate Members to the ever-growing Membership:
WaterRIDE
Described as "the ultimate floodplain management tool", waterRIDE is developed
by industry practitioners as a means of making technically complex flooding information usable and understandable, bridging the gap between the creators and the ultimate users of flood modelling data.
From floodplain managers, planners, and development assessors, to flood emergency managers, flood forecasters and flood modellers, waterRIDE brings flooding data and intelligence
alive.
AECOM AECOM offers extensive experience in providing flood
modelling and management services across a broad range of projects across Australia and abroad. Within Australia, AECOM has over 60 Water Resources professionals ranging from Graduate to Technical Director levels, experienced in hydrology, hydraulic modelling, floodplain management, flood risk and flood impact assessment, flood mitigation, EIA, stream diversions and geormorphology.
AECOM’s
multidisciplinary teams deliver strategic business advice for clients across a range of ideas, including water, asset management, sustainability, environmental management, planning, civil infrastructure and communication, and community engagement.
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UPCOMING FMA MEETINGS - FEBRUARY |
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Floodplain Management Australia will be convening its first Meetings of the year in Brisbane and Sydney during February. Queensland Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, 14 February 2018 at George Williams
Hotel, Brisbane
Workshop Topics: Brisbane Citywide Creek and Overland Flow Path Study followed by Bruce Highway Link Flood
Study NSW/ACT Chapter
Meeting Thursday 22 February 2018 at Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney
Workshop Topic:
Guidance, tools and projects that support delivery of Flood Risk Management in New South Wales These Meetings provide opportunities to network with colleagues from Councils, government agencies, consultants, insurers and product providers. There is no cost to attend, but please contact us to RSVP (and provide dietary requirements if necessary).
We look forward to seeing
you, and if you have a colleague who may benefit from the Meeting, please feel free to bring them along with you.
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INTERNATIONAL RIVERSYMPOSIUM ABSTRACTS OPEN |
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Abstracts are now open for the upcoming International RiverSymposium on 14-18 October 2018.
Hosted by the International RiverFoundation, the International
Riversymposium provides a platform for river managers, policy developers, scientists, consultants, NGOs and community organisations to share knowledge and innovative ideas on all aspects of river and water management.
If you are interested in submitting an abstract, the topics they are looking for are: - Integrated river basin management
- River science
- Environmental and cultural
flows
- Communicating science
- Rivers by design
- Engagement,
inclusiveness + ethics
- Governance, international relations and leadership
- Technology innovation in restoration and monitoring
- Water security, climate change and natural disasters
- Achieving sustainable development goal 6
- Traditional knowledge and
cultural heritage
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FLOOD DEATHS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY |
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FMA Corporate Member Risk Frontiers has put together a Briefing Note discussing deaths from flood events in the Northern Territory.
The Note examined the demographic characteristics of flood related activity and fatality ranging from 1960- 2017, and found that an increasing
proportion of flood deaths were seen.
“The riskiest ‘activity prior to death’ was found to be crossing flood watercourses, which accounts for over a third (35%) of fatalities in NT: 67% of those were male. A total of 57% of female decedents were attempting to cross floodwaters. The second most risky activity (21%) was being engaged in an activity near floodwaters:
males were overrepresented (100%)”.
Risk Frontiers also discovered alarming statistics regarding indigeneity from 2000-2017; the indigenous account for 65% of flood fatalities during this time period, with males accounting for 52% of all flood fatalities in the Territory.
The Note discusses
the critical need for flood mitigation and community training in the territory, stating that ‘three key strategies should be to educate, pose consequences and apply structural interventions’.
Read the
Note. |
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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS |
FMA Queensland Chapter Meeting, 14 February, Brisbane
FMA NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting, 22 February, Sydney
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Experienced Engineer - Floodplain and Catchments
Water Technology
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As a service to our Members, we welcome information on career opportunities in the area of floodplain management.
If you are interested in promoting a vacant position with us, please contact us. |
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Pictured: Penny the Sheep Dog, taken at Belowra Valley on the Tuross River (photo courtesy of Clr James Thomson, Eurobodalla Shire Council). Where has your cap been? Send us your photos. |
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