| FLYER ISSUE 1: JANUARY
2022
| READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MTMwNDUzNjY=/fma-flyer-1-january.htm
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NEXT FMA MEETING: COMBINED ONLINE MEETING - 17 FEBRUARY 2022
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Happy New Year to you all!
I’m sure we’re all pleased to see the end of 2021, and 2020 for that matter, and I am very much looking forward to renewing acquaintances at our FMA National Conference in Toowoomba.
On a more sombre note at the time of drafting this Flyer, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood and heavy rainfall warnings for parts of South Australia, with some places recording nearly a year’s worth of rainfall in 24 hours.
In an all-too-common scenario South Australian State Emergency Service volunteers were called to the mining town of Iron Knob Road, about 20km from Whyalla, after a van was swept into floodwaters.
The central and north eastern parts of the state are expected to experience further heavy rain in the coming days.
We say it time and time again, “don’t drive through floodwater” but that message is being ignored.
Last year I advocated more research into why people make the wrong decision in almost every major flood, and die in their cars.
The work done by Mr Grantley Smith, Principal Engineer at the University of NSW Water Research Laboratory, shows how cars can even be washed away in shallow water. I encourage all of us to google Floodwaters can turn cars into death
traps and distribute his research to our communities.
But people will still risk their lives, and we need to find a message that makes people realise that nothing is worth the risk of dying and leaving our families and loved ones to mourn.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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'WELCOME BACK' FMA CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS OPEN THIS WEEK!
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We are looking forward to welcoming you back to our first on site FMA Conference since Canberra in 2019, and to make it easier to get to Toowoomba we are offering registration rates not seen since 2016!
The Conference will be held at the Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (pictured below), Queensland from 17 – 20 May 2022.
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The FMA Conference has been held annually for over 50 years and is the most respected flood risk management event held in Australia.
The Conference is for anyone interested in making our communities more flood safe. It will bring together over 350 flood professionals and community members with interests in floodplain risk management.
Attendees will include Commonwealth, State and Local Government representatives, research organisations and education providers as well as consultants, engineers, land-use planners, emergency responders and community volunteer organisations.
Registrations open this week. For the best rates, accommodation options and choice of technical tours get in quick before 25 March!
And remember, if you can’t get to the Conference in person, online participation is available this year.
For the latest Conference information see: floodplainconference.com
UPCOMING FMA MEETING MOVED ONLINE
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Due to ongoing uncertainties about travel and meetings, the FMA Quarterly Meetings and Workshops scheduled for Brisbane on 9 February and Sydney on 17 February will now be held online on Thursday 17 February at live.baxav.com.au/fma
Over the course of the day, attendees will hear updates from the FMA Executive Committee, Young Floodplain Managers Committee members, and government agency representatives from the Bureau of Meteorology, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, VIC Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning as well as the NSW
and ACT State Emergency Services.
After the Meeting Proper, an informative virtual workshop will be held – topic to be advised over the coming weeks.
Make sure you save the date in your diary now as this meeting is not to be missed.
If you are interested in attending FMA Meetings over the next 12 months, you can find the dates of all of our upcoming Meetings at floods.org.au/meetings (to help with your planning!)
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NSW DESIGN AND PLACE SEPP
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The NSW Department of Planning and Environment placed the Draft Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) and associated Guidelines on exhibition on 10 December and submissions close on 28 February.
Recordings of the Department’s public information sessions delivered at the end of 2021 are available at: Design and Place Information
Sessions
FMA Land Use Planning Director represented FMA in workshops during development of the draft SEPP and will provide his observations related to flood risk management at the upcoming FMA Quarterly Meeting.
Mr Grech said that while recognising the need to consider Flood Risk Management early in the design process is a good thing, over simplistic guidance such as that proposed in the new Urban Design Guide can have negative effects.
“FMA will be reviewing the draft SEPP and associated documents with the intent of making a submission. Any comments from Members about issues FMA should seek to be addressed would be welcomed.”
The documents can be accessed at draft Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy SEPP.
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GET READY FOR THE 2022 FMA EXCELLENCE AWARDS
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Now is the time to start planning your nominations for the 2022 FMA Excellence Awards!
FMA’s nation-wide Excellence Awards publicly recognise the outstanding contribution of FMA organisations and individuals towards promoting wise land use planning, reducing flood impacts, managing flood incidents or restoring communities after a flood event.
The winners of the 2022 Excellence Awards will be announced at the Gala Excellence Awards Dinner at the FMA National Conference in Toowoomba in May.
The Excellence Awards are split into three categories:
FMA Flood Risk Management Project of the Year - Nominations will be open to any current Full, Associate, Corporate, Professional, Individual or Student FMA Member.
What is the Prize?
Winner - $10,000 cash prize to be used for a purpose related to flood risk management or flood risk education plus Crystal Trophy plus Luxury Hamper
Highly Commended – Two FMA National Conference and Workshop Registrations for 2023 plus Crystal Trophy plus Luxury Hamper.
FMA-Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year - Nominations will be open to any current FMA Member, or individual who is an employee or representative of an FMA Member.
What is the Prize?
Winner – A Full Three Day Registration to the 2023 FMA Conference and Pre-Conference Workshops to be held at Sydney, NSW, plus Crystal Trophy plus Luxury Hamper.
FMA YFM Young Floodplain Manager of the Year - Nominations will be open to any current FMA Member, or individual who is an employee or representative of an FMA Member, who is a current Member
of the Young Floodplain Managers network.
What is the Prize?
Winner - A Full Three Day Registration to the 2023 FMA Conference and Pre-Conference Workshops to be held at Sydney, NSW plus Crystal Trophy plus Luxury Hamper. The Prize is valued at up to $1250 (based on Full Member pricing).
Nominations will open in late February. You can download the information at floods.org.au/ea.
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AIDR ONLINE MASTERCLASS PROGRAM
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The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) has released details of its online masterclasses being conducted over the next six months.
The program provides professional development events and learning opportunities tailored for those working and volunteering in disaster resilience across a range of sectors.
Classes include Decision Making Under Pressure, Meteorology for Disasters Managers, Facilitating Debriefs Skills Clinic and Building Multi-functional Team Effectiveness.
For more information including registering for a masterclass visit aidr.org.au/events
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The FMA Webinar Series features some of the most popular presentations from our 2021 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.
The current webinar is There's a Better Way: Integrated Catchment Planning by Adam Berry (Synergy Solutions) and Phil Smith (City of Ipswich).
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About the Webinar Series:
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 [email protected], who will create an account for you.
Also, don’t forget that you are able to access an archive of the 2020 FMA Webinar Series presentations in the Members’ Section of floods.org.au!
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This year is the perfect time for you to join FMA's Young Floodplain Managers network! The YFM exists to represent, engage and inspire young floodplain management professionals across Australia.
Over the past 12 months, YFM has grown into three diverse chapters covering New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland and has been a virtual (and when social-distancing allowed, in-person) hub for networking and professional development. During 2022 you will see YFM continue to expand and offer even more opportunities to support young professionals in the field.
To kick-off the year, for those based in New South Wales, a networking opportunity is planned after the FMA Quarterly Meeting on 17 February at the Aurora Hotel (near Central) from 5pm. No registrations necessary - just turn up and head to the rooftop.
For more information about joining, please visit floods.org.au/yfm - we would love to have you!
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The FMA Flyer reaches a wide range of industry professionals from Australia and overseas, and if you have any recent projects or exciting news we would love to share it with our readers.
Send through details of your stories and we can include them in our upcoming issues by contacting [email protected].
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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
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No vacancies
If you are interested in promoting a vacant position with us, please contact us.
Please remember that while we circulate Vacant Positions in this monthly Flyer, sometimes position closing deadlines don't align with the time of its distribution. Make sure you head to floods.org.au/jobs to check for Vacant Positions that may not be listed here due to shorter closing dates.
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TRAVELLING CAPS AND BEANIES
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Do you have an FMA Cap or Beanie photo you'd like to share with Flyer readers?
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