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The Queensland government has launched the Brisbane River Strategic Floodplain Management Plan and the comprehensive Flood Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes – a move welcomed by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).
The floodplain management plan harnessed the planning strengths and resources of the Palaszczuk Government, the Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, and Somerset councils, and Seqwater, to provide the framework for a consistent approach to managing flood risk across the Brisbane River floodplain.
“The floodplain management plan is a noteworthy achievement in Australia’s most flood-prone state,” said Karl Sullivan, ICA general manager of risk and disaster planning. “It enables governments to develop flood resilience and mitigation programs and should also inform town planning decisions. It should be used as the national benchmark for cooperation between state and local governments to deliver whole-of-catchment floodplain management.”
Sullivan said the plan could be used as a template by other flood-prone Queensland communities.
The Flood Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes, meanwhile, will empower home and small business owners to make informed decisions regarding their individual flood risk and how to reduce their exposure, Sullivan said.
“This is a practical resource that will lead to an increase in flood-resilient properties in communities with a known flood risk,” Sullivan said. “The guide offers many retrofit measures that will strengthen homes against floodwater and make clean-up and recovery post flood faster and easier, assisting communities to rebuild after a flood. It is compelling reading for not just the residents of the Brisbane River floodplain but anyone who lives in flood-prone communities.”
Sullivan added that the launch is the opportune time for Queenslanders to review their flood risk and insurance policies.
“Homeowners who implement a range of flood resilience measures may have the opportunity to decrease their insurance premiums, with some insurers already recognising the decreased risk of homes retrofitted with a range of flood impact reduction building option,” Sullivan said.
