Flood update
In the latest meeting, the branch met with City of Gold Coast to discuss the Flooding and Stormwater component of the City Plan. The aim of the meeting was to gain clarity on this component of the plan.
Key points:
- Branch recently met with council
- Flooding and Stormwater components of City Plan discussed
- Separate working group of the Institute engaging with council on flooding.
The Gold Coast Logan Branch has met with City of Gold Coast to discuss matters that are affecting members. Through these regular forums, council can provide updates and seek consultation from the industry on technical and planning changes.
In the latest meeting, the branch met with City of Gold Coast to discuss the Flooding and Stormwater component of City Plan. The aim of the meeting was to gain clarity on this component of the plan.
Recently an Interim approach for small scale developments at risk of isolation due to flood guideline was released by council. It is being used in planning assessment of smaller developments. This document allows the industry to proceed with assessment of the development application without engaging a flood engineer.
A working group from the Institute is now regularly meeting with council on flooding. In addition, our Branch President has been chairing a non-affiliated group of Industry Flood Experts that feeds into these meetings.
During 2016, Australian Rainfall & Runoff (AR&R) was released which is utilised by engineers and scientists in calculating storm and flood events. As happened with the previous version of AR&R, council and branch members have questioned the reliance on so few measuring stations on the Gold Coast to determine our rainfall patterns. City of Gold Coast have requested the Bureau of Meteorology add in additional rain recording locations to recalibrate the rainfall patterns more accurately. Brisbane, Ipswich and Moreton Bay have commissioned expert reviews of their rainfall patterns.
Further, we are expecting the draft Permissible Maximum Flood (PMF) Model of the Nerang River catchment to review and comment on over the next couple of months. Our non-affiliated Industry Flood Experts Group has volunteered to review the technical models.
The rainfall patterns delay the publishing of the PMF levels and velocities which creates uncertainty for developments requiring shelter in place but also lack of certainty for the Designated Flood Level (Q100).
Council’s program, without the delays, indicated public advertising in March 2021 and adoption in November 2021 of the updated flood models.
We look forward to updating members further as this evolves, any questions please contact us on goldcoast@udiaqld.com.au.