| FLYER ISSUE 8: AUGUST
2020
| READ IN BROWSER https://floods.optin.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTc2OA==/fma-flyer-8-august.htm
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NEXT FMA MEETINGS: QLD CHAPTER 11 NOVEMBER + NSW/ACT CHAPTER 19 NOVEMBER
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Our August online FMA workshop provided an interactive session with Mr Karl Sullivan, Head of Risk and Operations for the Insurance Council of Australia.
Karl provided a history of insurance in Australia and the benefits of sharing flood data to more accurately assess risk which can then enable insurance companies to “sharpen their pencil” in calculating insurance premiums.
Also, the workshop included an excellent Q&A session which again illustrated the benefits of flood mitigation works such as flood levees to reduce flood damages and therefore enable reduced insurance premiums to property owners.
We often quote the example of Roma and St George in Queensland where the construction of flood levees has reduced the risk of flood damage and there has since been a reduction in insurance premiums of up to 70%.
The flipside of this means that without flood mitigation works, insurance premiums elsewhere will remain higher and therefore the 'mums and dads' property owners will actually be paying the price for the lack of mitigation works every year. Despite the current federal and state government investment in other infrastructure such as roads, rail, water supply and football stadiums, there has been no apparent
increase in flood mitigation funding, so we can expect higher insurance premiums to continue to pay the price. It seems that the Productivity Commission recommendation in 2014 for increased investment in mitigation, has been forgotten.
Furthermore, just as an interesting thought, I recently attended a Flood Community of Practice workshop in Brisbane and discussed the current COVID-19 border closures with a representative of one of Australia’s most respected floodplain management consultants.
This consultancy would love to quote for projects interstate but can’t because of the lack of mobility caused by the border restrictions. This means that the current restrictions are hampering competition and may therefore be a further hidden cost of COVID-19 because of less competitive bids for projects around Australia in various industries, including floodplain management.
With all of us in the floodplain management space continuing to battle against these headwinds we can take heart in that we are still making progress in modelling, planning and mitigation for the communities we serve.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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FMA DIGITAL AUGUST QUARTERLY MEETING ROUND UP
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On August 20, Floodplain Management Australia held its combined August Quarterly Meeting online bringing together nearly 100 professionals from around the nation and overseas.
The Meeting was very well received and included updates from the FMA Executive, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW), Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Department of Land, Water and Environment (VIC) and Bureau of Meteorology. The day also included scheduled time for Q&A sessions with presenters, and a brief from the Young Floodplain Managers network of FMA.
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Pictured: FMA Executive Q&A Panel during the QM.
The afternoon workshop Developments in Flood Insurance, featuring Karl Sullivan of the Insurance Council of Australia, was moderated by FMA Queensland Director William Prentice and is showing to be one of the most popular workshops held by FMA. The
recording of the workshop will be made available exclusively to FMA Members in the Members' Section of floods.org.au in the coming weeks.
It is encouraging to see that this format of Meeting was accessible for so many, and still allowed us to provide adequate time for Q&A and interaction. The next scheduled meetings of the FMA are:
Queensland Chapter Meeting, Brisbane 11 November, 2020
NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting, Sydney 19 November, 2020
While it is our hope to hold these upcoming meetings in person, should social distancing requirements restrict this, we may again embrace this online format.
If you attended the online Meeting but did not get a chance to notify us of your attendance in the Chat Box, please contact us before COB Friday 4th September so we can include it in the Minutes.
We would love to hear your feedback on the Meeting, please email projectservices@floods.org.au with your comments.
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FMA WEBINAR SERIES UPDATE
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FMA's Webinar Series is in its fourth week with Ben Mason's (Jacobs) presentation Flood Mitigation on Large Scale Infrastructure currently available in the Members' Section of floods.org.au.
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Every two weeks, FMA will be releasing a popular presentation from the National Conference exclusively for FMA Members. You will need to register for access to the Members' Section, if you have not already. You can do this easily by contacting Dominique Jovanovic at projectservices@floods.org.au, who will create an account for
you.
The next webinar presentation to be made available is from Josh Nadiroglu at BG&E titled The Only Way is Up: Flood Evacuation in Parramatta CBD on Thursday 3 September.
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2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, SYDNEY UPDATE
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The 2021 FMA National Conference will be taking place at Luna Park in Sydney from 25th - 28th May, and will be FMA's most celebratory event yet. Not only will it be the first National event where we can all convene in person after this year's Digital Conference (we hope), it also falls on the FMA's 60th Anniversary.
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Pictured: Luna Park by day.
FMA was established in 1961 when four coastal flood mitigation authorities met at the Maitland Town Hall (NSW) to share ideas and technical solutions to flooding, and to explore avenues for mutual assistance. Since that time the network has expanded nationally to include over 160 Members from all avenues of flood risk management in Australia and abroad,
and is the key voice for FRM in the nation.
Pictured: Main Plenary Hall at Luna Park.
The 2021 Conference in Sydney will celebrate the history of Floodplain Management Australia and the Members that make the network possible. During the week delegates will hear motivational and innovative presentations from exceptional keynote speakers and industry professionals, take part in interactive workshops and journey through Sydney on
informative field trips.
Pictured: Luna Park by night (yes, we will be there at night too!)
The Conference is one not to be missed, so save the date in your calendars and budgets now.
Should social distancing requirements prevent FMA from hosting an in-person Conference, we will again convene the Conference online - either way 25th - 28th May will be an important week for your diary!
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While the world is in a difficult place during the pandemic, we know that all of our Members are still working incredibly hard (some from home, some from quarantine, some from a socially distanced office). We are constantly amazed at the resilience, ingenuity and compassion of so many of you in our network and we applaud your
initiative.
We would love to hear about the projects that you're continuing to work on, the challenges you may be facing and how you are coping with changes to the FRM landscape.
Please get in touch with us so we can share your insights with your peers.
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Save the date - QLD YFM Launch Event, Midday Tuesday 13th October
A Queensland chapter of the Young Floodplain Managers group is set to launch this October. To kick-off, we’ll be hosting a virtual panel and networking event over lunch on Tuesday 13th October. Our panel will be speakers engaging on the topic of ‘Working through a flood event: Impacts on your career’.
More details to be released soon; to be amongst the first to hear, make sure to sign-up to the YFM mailing list via www.floods.org.au/site/yfm or join the ‘FMA Young Floodplain Managers’ group on LinkedIn.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
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If you are interested in promoting a vacant position with us, please contact us.
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TRAVELLING CAPS AND BEANIES
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Pictured: *Someone* resting after a long Brisbane Quarterly Meeting back in February 2020.
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