| FLYER ISSUE 7: JULY FLYER
2020
| READ IN BROWSER https://floods.optin.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTcyMw==/fma-flyer-7-july.htm
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NEXT FMA MEETING: DIGITAL QLD + NSW/ACT COMBINED MEETING 20 AUGUST
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Australians love to “bag” the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the knockers at the local pub reckon they know more about weather forecasts than anyone else.
Well, those of us in the floodplain management business know better and we are currently seeing the Bureau’s long range forecast for significant rainfall this winter come true.
I recall back in January, or even earlier, the Bureau telling us to expect significantly higher rainfall during this year’s autumn and winter and it should be remembered that back then, we were still suffering the effects of a lengthy drought at the time.
This autumn and winter has already seen several flood events across our nation and again this week we have seen an “east coast low” bringing huge rain and flash flooding across Newcastle with at least 8 flood rescues by SES and a further 9 children rescued from a bus.
In the introduction to its online interactive flood risk map, Newcastle City Council says flooding affects as many as one in three Newcastle properties.
Meanwhile, about 50,000 homes are without power in Perth, Western Australia, this week as it currently is being smashed by a “once in a decade” event.
With winds up to 130km per hour, the west coast is being hammered by wild weather and flooding in the whole area between the Pilbara and Esperance, with Geographe Bay predicted to be the worst impacted.
With all of this happening as we speak, I think we owe a debt of gratitude to the BOM’s hard working staff for the excellent service they provide. The investment on modelling and leadership in recent years has proven to be a winner with their 2020 long range forecast demonstrating they DO know more than anyone about weather.
I look forward to the BOM’s report to our upcoming virtual Quarterly FMA Meeting in August and ….…As “Crowded House” says, (one of our favourite band of musicians)….Always take the weather with you!
FMA will continue to do that.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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FMA DIGITAL AUGUST QUARTERLY MEETING
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In the interest of keeping our Members safe, FMA will be combining its upcoming FMA Queensland and NSW/ACT Chapter Meetings on the 20th August in an online format.
During the Meeting, you will hear updates from the FMA Executive, the Young Floodplain Managers network, NSW Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, NSW and ACT State Emergency Service, VIC Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Bureau of Meteorology.
After the conclusion of the Meeting proper, a live workshop focused on Developments in Flood Insurance will be hosted by Karl Sullivan, Head of Risk and Operations of the Insurance Council of Australia.
More details will be circulated at a closer date, but until then please save the following information:
When: 20 August 2020
Time: 10.30am
Where: Online (URL to be advised)
Cost: Free
If you have any questions regarding the upcoming Meeting, please contact us.
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Following on from our very successful 2020 Digital Conference, FMA will be running an FMA Member exclusive webinar series over the next few months.
The presentations will feature some of the most popular recorded presentations from our Conference program with access available to each webinar for two weeks. A new webinar will be released every fortnight in the Members’ Section of floods.org.au beginning on the 6th August.
If have not registered for access to the Members’ Section, or have forgotten your login details, contact projectservices@floods.org.au.
If you aren’t an FMA Member, but are interested in joining our network of over 160 councils, catchment management authorities, organisations and flood risk professionals, visit floods.org.au/membership.
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PLANNING FOR ANIMALS IN DISASTERS STUDY
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Macquarie University researchers are inviting input to research about Australia’s animal-related planning for, and response to, disasters including floods, bushfires and cyclones.
The study aims to better understand how different groups and organisations manage animals in disasters. A report will be publicly available early next year, and will include recommendations that inform disaster response planning which involves animal management.
The survey takes less than 40 minutes to complete, and is approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (project ID#: 6757).
For more information and to complete the survey: Take the Survey
Copy this link to share the survey:
https://mqedu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bCoMBPEfXNzZ6L3?RID=MLRP_8rg2JFLQtxtbJjf&Q_CHL=email
The researchers are experienced in the study of animal management during disasters including bushfire and flood. This work has been funded by World Animal Protection, to be conducted independently by Macquarie University. For further information or to view the study summary contact the research team:
Dr Mel Taylor, Chief Investigator
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University
Mel.Taylor@mq.edu.au
Dr Joshua Trigg
Senior Research Officer, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University
Joshua.Trigg@mq.edu.au
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ONLINE FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT SHORT COURSE UPDATE
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The FMA-DPIE Floodplain Risk Management Short Course at University of Technology, Sydney will not run as planned this year due to social distancing requirements.
However to ensure continued support of our Members, as previously circulated, FMA will be running a trial online short course through UTS with 14 selected participants.
The course will run over the same three month period as usual (August-October), however instead of 3x1.5 day blocks, it will run in shorter weekly sessions and the presentations will be loaded onto the student portals to watch at their leisure. The presenter will then be available for discussion and tutorials once a week.
If you are one of the 14 selected participants, congratulations on being selected and thank you for your support of this trial program.
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Last month FMA talked about the First Street Foundation Flood Risk Model recently released in the USA. Since then, our US colleagues at the ASFPM have released some talking points about the First Street model.
ASFPM have kindly agreed to allow us to distribute these Talking Points for us all to see. The First Street model seems to provide flood mapping across the whole nation, albeit on a fairly coarse grid.
The Talking Points from ASFPM provide an excellent perspective on the modelling whilst also supporting the need for funding of appropriate flood mapping of the whole USA.
You can read the Talking Points here.
Our many thanks go to Larry Larson and the ASFPM for sharing these comments with us.
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AHA-FMA EARLY STAGE INFORMATION MEMBER AND PARTNER OPPORTUNITY
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Australian Hydrographers Association and FMA are proud to work together in disseminating information that may benefit our members and partners, currently focusing on the Review of Flood Warning Infrastructure following the North and Far North Monsoon Trough in 2019.
Background
More than 50 per cent of Queensland’s land mass was impacted by the North and Far North Monsoon Trough, 25 January – 14 February 2019. The Monsoon Trough brought a deluge that caused widespread devastation from the Torres Strait in the north to the Queensland, South Australian border in the south west.
As a result the Commonwealth and Queensland governments jointly announced a recovery package totalling $242 million, which included funding for Betterment, business and industry support, and riparian and coastal recovery for the 39 Local Government Areas impacted by the Monsoon Trough. The funding also enabled a review of the flood warning infrastructure in the 39 impacted local government areas, with the following outcomes:
- Delivery of an analysis across all existing flood warning infrastructure to identify priority locations requiring additional or upgraded flood warning infrastructure capability.This was achieved by working with impacted councils and local communities (including pastoralists), the Bureau of Meteorology, Sunwater, Department of Natural
Resources, Mines and Energy, Department of Transport & Main Roads, and Queensland Rail.
- Delivery of detailed maps for each council area identifying the location and suggested flood warning infrastructure.
Next Step
As part of the $242 million North and Far North Monsoon Trough, 25 January – 14 February 2019 Category C and D package, the Commonwealth and Queensland governments will jointly fund the implementation of priority flood warning infrastructure identified from the Flood Warning Infrastructure Network Review.
This will mean approximately 190 flood warning infrastructure assets for 28 local governments to be delivered by June 2022.
In order to streamline the procurement and implementation process, options are currently being developed to consider grouping some local governments together for a single and possibly a staged procurement process.
Opportunities
Procurement opportunities are likely to be available by late 2020, with further advice to be provided in the coming months. An industry forum is planned to occur before the tender process commences.
AHA and FMA will liaise with the Department and monitor opportunities. Meanwhile, for more information please contact Greg Scroope by email at greg.scroope@qra.qld.gov.au.
To find out more about AHA, visit https://aha.net.au/
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2019 FMA NRMA INSURANCE FRM PROJECT OF THE YEAR WINNER UPDATE
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Image Credit: Tweed Shire Council
At the 2019 FMA National Conference, the Tumbulgum Flood Warning and Response Service was named FMA NRMA Insurance Flood Risk Management Project of the Year and was awarded $10,000 prize to be used for a purpose related to flood risk management or flood education.
Project partners included the Tumbulgum Community Association, Tweed Shire Council, the Bureau of Meteorology, NSW SES and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
The joint project developed and implemented a new flood warning service and response plan for the area enabling the community to enact its own flood evacuation plan and leave before evacuation routes are blocked.
Since that time, Tweed Shire Council has put a large portion of the prize money towards a signage project to help the community plan and keep people safe. When the Bureau issues Flood Watch or Flood Warning advice, the Tumbulgum Community Association and Tumbulgum Community Action Team (CAT) will act on that advice and unfold the signs built into all three village entrance signs.
For more information flood risk management in the Tweed, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Flooding
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RISK FRONTIERS SEMINAR SERIES
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FMA Corporate Member Risk Frontiers will be holding its Seminar Series 2020 online as three one-hour webinars across three weeks:
Webinar 1. Thursday 17th September, 2:30-3:30pm
Webinar 2. Thursday 24th September, 2:30-3:30pm
Webinar 3. Thursday 1st October, 2:30-3:30pm
Presentation Day 1
Introduction to Risk Frontiers Seminar Series 2020
Historical analysis of Australian compound disasters – Andrew Gissing
Presentation Day 2
Climate conditions preceding the 2019/20 compound event season – Dr Stuart Browning
Black Summer learnings and Risk Frontiers’ Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements – Dr James O’Brien, Lucinda Coates, Andrew Gissing, Dr Ryan Crompton
Presentation Day 3
Introduction to Risk Frontiers’ ‘ClimateGLOBE’ physical climate risk framework
Incorporating climate change scenarios into catastrophe loss models – Dr Mingzhu Wang, Dr Tom Mortlock, Dr Ryan Springall, Dr Ryan Crompton.
You can find out more and register online at https://event.webinarjam.com/register/24/1nwk7tpm
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FMA PRESS RELEASE: WILD WEATHER A REMINDER TO PREPARE FOR FLOODS
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Published 27 July 2020
As the cleanup from the flash flooding along the NSW coast continues Ian Dinham, President of Floodplain Management Australia, warned that we should not be surprised by this wild weather event which caught many people unprepared.
Newcastle and suburbs took a battering with Williamtown reporting its wettest July day on record, the rail line being cut by floodwaters, and NSW State Emergency Services personnel responding to 100 calls for assistance, including nine children from a bus, which had become trapped in floodwater.
“Earlier this year the Bureau of Meteorology predicted a change from drought conditions to a wetter winter and possible flooding, and this is what we are now seeing” Mr Dinham said.
“While this weather event is severe, more extreme storms and floods can and do occur. Everybody has a responsibility to understand their flood risk, and be prepared for events like this which can develop very quickly.”
Read the full release at floods.org.au/site/releases
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FMA CORPORATE MEMBER AWMA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
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Article submitted by Belinda Barker, AWMA Marketing Manager
Established 1st July 2000, AWMA have been delivering specialised water control infrastructure to domestic and now global markets for twenty years.
AWMA design, manufacture and install water control gates, flood barriers and self-cleaning intake screens, custom designing every product to meet site and operational requirements.
AWMA Managing Director Brett Kelly would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support; customers, project partners, suppliers and the dedicated team who have enabled them to continually build the AWMA Water Control Solutions range of products and services, for two decades.
“Witnessing our team working with numerous project partners to design, manufacture, install and deliver innovative solutions for hundreds of challenging projects, has been very rewarding,” Mr Kelly said.
AWMA primarily began servicing the needs of the local irrigation market. The millennium drought began two years into the operation and still has legacy effects today. Australia was pushed to use scarce water resources more efficiently; for irrigation, the environment and urban use. Complimenting this, was the opportunity to recycle and reuse waste water more effectively.
Mr Kelly states “I am very proud to have been part of many of the solutions and projects delivered to ensure Australia’s most valuable resources are sustainable. Australia is now seen as a global leader in efficient water delivery and consumption, across all water sectors. At a time when there are universal global challenges with natural water resource availability, it is something we should all be proud of”.
The AWMA team of over 50 continue to focus on listening to customers and working with suppliers to deliver cost effective but innovative solutions for water control.
AWMA’s head office and manufacturing facility proudly remains in Regional Victoria and is supported by a dedicated team located throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The quality and culture of the AWMA team and what they can accomplish in partnership with asset owners, designers, contractors and suppliers is a credit to them and worth recognising on this their 20th year of operation.
Learn more about AWMA at www.awmawatercontrol.com.au
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The Young Floodplain Managers network exists to represent, engage and inspire young floodplain management professionals across Australia. FMA Members will be familiar with the network, but for those who have questions, here are some FAQs:
Is there a YFM Membership fee?
No. There is no cost associated with being part of the YFM Network.
Do I need to be a Member of Floodplain Management Australia to join?
No. You do not need to be current Member of Floodplain Management Australia to join the YFM Network. We do invite YFM Members to attend FMA Meetings and events throughout the year, regardless of their FMA Membership status.
How do I apply to become a Member of the YFM Network?
Simply download the Application form at floods.org.au/yfm, complete it, and submit it through that page. Your Application will be reviewed by the YFM Committee, and they will be in touch.
How 'young' do I need to be? Are there restrictions to YFM Membership?
While YFM mentions that their Membership is guided towards those up-and-coming in the flood risk industry, with less than 15 years experience, all are welcome to join and attend YFM events (provided they support the objectives of YFM). YFM deeply respects and appreciates the knowledge that more experienced professionals of the industry have gained, and
wants to stress that they are most welcome at all events.
Why should I join the YFM Network?
Not only will you be welcome to attend our exciting networking events throughout the calendar year, you can also participate in our Mentorship Program (more to come at a later date), and the prestigious Outstanding YFM Presenter Award at the FMA National Conference.
To find out more about the network, and its Committee Members visit floods.org.au/yfm.
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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: A Currumbin (QLD) local keeping the winter at bay with an FMA 2014 Deniliquin Cap.
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