FMA Flyer 10 October

Published: Thu, 10/31/19

FLYER ISSUE 10: OCTOBER 2019

READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTM2NQ==/fma-flyer-10-october.htm

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Drought Impacts and Floods

We are all well aware of the current drought and wondering if it will ever rain again.

For the first time in living memory we have now witnessed the current “cease to flow” in the Mehi River at Moree. It is now just a dry gully interspersed with separate ponds which are evaporating quickly under the hot sun.

Perhaps it is time to remind ourselves that droughts often end in a flood as occurred in parts of Australia after the “millennium drought” in 2010 and thereafter.

A report from the Public Policy Institute of California refers to this phenomenon and urges us to plan now for the next flood, especially with wise land use planning.

See:-

https://www.ppic.org › blog › reminder-droughts-often-end-with-floods

All of us involved with FMA need to continue our good work and continue to prepare for the next flood, particularly with climate change considerations and the likelihood of extreme events, both drought and flood, in the future.

Mehi River at Moree 22 October 2019

Hope to see you at our November Meetings!

ID

Ian Dinham | FMA President

2020 CONFERENCE UPDATE: REGISTRATIONS OPEN SOON!

This past week, the FMA Conference Committee received over 130 abstracts for the upcoming National Conference in Toowoomba.

The abstracts covered a wide range of topics, and are of a high quality that FMA delegates have come to expect.

Aside from the Conference proper (Wednesday 20 - Friday 22 May), two Pre-Conference workshops will be held on the Tuesday (19 May).

Throughout the past few months, FMA has sought feedback from Members as to which topics are of most interest to FMA Members in workshop format.

The topics of selected for the 2020 Pre-Conference Workshops are:

Human Behaviour in Floods
Overland Flooding.

At the moment, the Program Advisory Committee is currently finalising exciting and informative Field Trip options for the Conference week, the details of which will be made available shortly on the Conference website at floodplainconference.com.

Registration for the Conference opens in November, so ensure you register soon to take advantage of Early Bird Discounts, and to ensure you are able to secure your preferred field trip and accommodation.

The FMA Conference is the greatest, most informative event of the calendar year in the flood risk industry. If you are interested in being a sponsor, or exhibiting your company in the trade display area, please visit the Sponsors and Exhibitors page of the Conference website for more information.

If you are unsure of your FMA Membership number when registering for the FMA Conference Member discount, please contact us and we can help you out.

For more information on the conference, please visit floodplainconference.com.

UPCOMING FMA MEETINGS: BRISBANE, TOWNSVILLE AND SYDNEY

November is a very busy month for FMA with Meetings being held in Brisbane, Townsville and Sydney. The dates are as follows:

Wednesday 13 November - BRISBANE Queensland Chapter Meeting

Venue: AECOM, Level 8, 540 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

Time: 10am

Workshop Topic: Risk Based Land Use Planning

Thursday 14 November - TOWNSVILLE Regional FMA Meeting: The 2019 Monsoon Flood and Ongoing Recovery

Venue: Townsville Local Disaster Coordination Centre, 113-123 Dalrymple Road, Garbutt.

Time: 10am

Workshop Topic: Disaster Coordination Centre Tour and Presentations

(From 7.30am, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority will be holding a workshop focussing on Flood Warning Infrastructure.)

Thursday 21 November - SYDNEY NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting

Venue: The Bureau of Meteorology, 300 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Time: 10am

Workshop Topic: Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the planned Manly Laboratory Field Trip has been cancelled. Details of a replacement workshop will be circulated shortly.

FMA Meetings are free to attend, and provide unparalleled opportunities for networking with FMA Members, and professionals in the flood risk industry.

All are welcome to attend, you do not need to be an FMA Member, however please RSVP to Dominique Jovanovic as soon as possible to assist with event planning (which includes catering, so please notify us of any dietary requirements).

We look forward to seeing you in November!

EXCITING FLOOD AGENDA FOR TOWNSVILLE

Following the successful meeting at Rockhampton in November last year, we will be visiting Townsville on 14 November with a full agenda focusing on Northern Queensland, and the ongoing recovery from the 2019 monsoon flood.

FMA President Ian Dinham said “In recent years North Queensland has experienced massive flooding and flood damage, with the insurance cost of the February floods in Townsville peaking at $1.24 billion.

“There is much to learn from those communities about their floods, but also their recovery process. In particular we are looking forward to hearing from Richmond Shire Council Mayor John Wharton and CEO Peter Bennett about how their central Queensland town is faring.”

We are hoping to make new connections with Councils and businesses that have not previously been to an FMA event, so if you know a colleague involved in flood risk management, emergency response or recovery please invite them along.

The day starts at 7:30 at the Townsville Local Disaster Coordination Centre with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority hosting a Flood Warning Infrastructure Workshop - RSVP directly to the QRA:
[email protected]

The FMA part of the day commences with a well-deserved morning tea at 10:00 for the 10:30 start of the FMA Meeting. After lunch we will tour the Disaster Coordination Centre, then hear first-hand accounts of the monsoon flood, response and recovery from Townsville and Richmond Councils.

Please join us for an informative day, and the opportunity to form lasting connections with flood colleagues from across the country. RSVP to Dominique Jovanovic.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

FMA has the pleasure of welcoming the following to our ever-growing national network of flood risk professionals:

BG&E Pty Limited (NSW)

BG&E work within flood risk management for a range of clients from private developers to Local Government. They are committed to reach design solutions which suitably, effectively and practicably address flood risk management on site specific, local and regional scales.

For more information on BG&E, please visit their website www.bgeeng.com.

Venant Solutions (Victoria)

Venant Solutions’ specialist hydrologists and hydraulic engineers are based in Melbourne and provide expert tailored services on stormwater, and flood modelling and management to government and private sector clients throughout Australia.

Want to know more about Tenant Solutions? Head to venantsolutions.com.au and take a look.

Gawler River Catchment Management Authority (South Australia)

The Authority was established to co-ordinate the construction, operation and management of flood mitigation infrastructure; to raise finance for developing, managing, operating and maintaining works; and to provide a forum for discussion in relation to management of flood mitigation.

Constituent Councils are The Adelaide Hills Council, The Adelaide Palins Council, The Barossa Council, The Town of Gawler, Light Regional Council and the City of Playford.

For more on Gawler River, visit their website here.

In addition, a new Professional Member has been admitted.

If you're interested in joining our over 150 nationwide Members, you can find out more at floods.org.au.

NEW FLOOD WARNING INFRASTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK AND STANDARD ENDORSED BY ANZEMC

Picture provided by BoM.

On 27 August, the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC) endorsed the National Framework for Flood Warning Infrastructure and the Flood Warning Infrastructure Standard developed by the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Working Group (the Working Group).

The Framework provides guidance for future flood warning infrastructure planning and investment, based on jurisdictional analyses of their flood warning infrastructure.

The Standard presents performance requirements for the design, development and monitoring of fit-for-purpose flood warning infrastructure.

These products will guide future flood warning infrastructure investments in an integrated and cost-efficient manner, to enhance flood warnings to the community.

This marks the successful conclusion of the Working Group and is testimony to the collaborative nature of the group and the expertise and hard work of all involved.

You can read more about it at this link: Consultation: Flood Warning Infrastructure Standard.

This article was provided by Dr. Richard Hammond of the Bureau of Meteorology.

Do you or your organisation have an interesting project or innovation that you have been working on that Members would love to hear about?

If so, contact us and we can include it in an upcoming issue of the FMA Flyer.

YOUNG FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS MONTHLY FEATURE

Each month in the FMA Flyer, we will be spotlighting a feature from the Young Floodplain Managers (YFM) network within FMA.

The Young Floodplain Managers (YFM) are holding their inaugrual Networking Event on Tuesday 12 November in Sydney, and they want to invite you!

Are you the undisputed Mario Kart champion of the world? Come and show your support for the Young Floodplain Managers (YFM) network and prove it!

The YFM End of Year Networking event is being held from 6:00 pm on 12 November at The Wanderer in Surry Hills, Sydney.

This unique venue is well known for its dartboards, Mario Kart, shuffleboard, and giant Jenga - giving you the chance to support YFM by crushing your friends and colleagues.

The YFM committee will also be bringing along some games, with prizes for the winners.

Come for the networking, or just the free food, either way it’s going to be an amazing night!

Who: Anyone with an interest in floodplain management

What: Casual networking

Where: The Wanderer, 501 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills Sydney NSW 2010

When: 6pm, 12 November 2019

Cost: Nothing! It’s free thanks to our amazing sponsors. GLN Planning, GRC Hydro, WMAwater and Catchment Simulation Solutions.

Get your tickets here before you miss out!

YFM is in discussion with the FMA Executive about being incorporated as part of Floodplain Management Australia (FMA) and your support would be warmly welcomed.

More on this will be discussed at the November FMA Meetings in Brisbane and Sydney.

Also, keep up to date with YFM network via the LinkedIn group (FMA Young Floodplain Managers).