FMA Flyer 9 September

Published: Mon, 09/30/19

FLYER ISSUE 9: SEPTEMBER 2019

READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTMyOA==/fma-flyer-9-september.htm

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

You may recall I spoke about trusting Real Estate Agents to advise buyers on flood risk to properties at this year’s Conference in Canberra.

Well, it seems that one County in the USA has addressed this idea with some innovative measures, and Real Estate Agents in Pinellas County, Florida actually help “Disclose” critical flood information to prospective buyers.

Wouldn’t it be good if Real Estate Agents told buyers that the property they are about to look at has flooded in the past? Wouldn’t it be great if Real Estate Agents received training to help them explain flood risk and flood insurance rates so that their clients could make educated decisions about purchasing homes?

In Pinellas County, Florida, that’s now a reality.

Lisa Foster, floodplain administrator for Pinellas County, has developed a Real Estate Flood Disclosure training program. Back in 2014, the County kicked off a Program for Public Information (PPI), an important outreach tool which includes an information brochure.

Agents don’t necessarily know much about hazards, building regulations, flood insurance or risk and that’s how the concept of the flood disclosure brochure and real estate training program came about.

Instead of being a disadvantage to property sales, it seems that agents who have undertaken the training have been able gain the trust of buyers and “out do” their rivals in sales figures.

The brochure is often made available for buyers at property inspections and people appreciate being told.

One wonders how such a program would be viewed by Real Estate Agents in Australia. Our history shows that Agents don’t like us installing flood markers on power poles etc for fear of devaluing properties. Such signage sometimes seems to mysteriously disappear.

It may be some time off before we can convince Agents to mention the “F” word…. (ie; “Flood”) in Australia.

Ian Dinham | FMA President

2020 CONFERENCE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS OPEN!

The 2020 FMA National Conference Call for Abstracts is open!

The upcoming FMA Conference is be held in Toowoomba from 19-22 May, and the theme of the event is A Flood Resilient Australia: transforming vision into action.

Each year we receive an increasing number of high quality abstracts that help us form the framework for another exceptional national conference, and we look forward to seeing yours.

The Conference Committee are looking for a range of quality presentations dealing with riverine, overland and flash flooding, and coastal inundation.

The subject of the presentation should align with one or more of the following topic areas:

• National collaboration and coordination

• Modelling

• Flood prediction and warning

• Land use planning

• Infrastructure projects and asset management

• Flood policy, guidance, best practice, and monetization of floods

• Social and cultural aspects

• Emergency preparedness and management, and recovery

• Flood stories and case studies

• Environmental aspects – climate change, coastal hazards and adaptation.

To download the Call for Abstracts, please visit the Conference Website at floodplainconference.com.

LAST CHANCE - FRM SHORT COURSE IN SYDNEY

This is your last chance to take part in the FMA – DPIE Flood Risk Management Short Course in Sydney this year.

The final block of the Course, to be held at the University of Technology, Sydney will focus on Managing Flood Risk to Existing Properties.

While the Short Course is aimed at engineers, emergency managers and land use planners, it is also suitable for all those with an interest in flood risk management such as elected local government officials and community representatives on FRM committees.

This block will cover:

FRM issues for existing development
Role of FRM studies and plans in managing risk to existing development
Practical FRM options and associated decision making and implementation issues
Determining the appropriate option for a particular situation
Considering the environmental impacts of works and other management options
Typical approvals necessary for mitigation work projects
Emergency response planning for, and response to, floods; and
Implementation of management plans.

Investment: $550 (GST free).

More details are available at the UTS website.

BRISBANE RIVER STRATEGY A WINNER

Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Somerset Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Queensland Government, and Seqwater have been announced as a Joint Winner in the Government category in the 2019 Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards for the Brisbane River Strategic Floodplain Management Plan.

The Honourable Cameron Dick, Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, said “The Brisbane River Strategic Floodplain Management Plan was recognised as an outstanding example of how locally-led, regionally-focused and state-supported resilience can achieve improvements for all parts of the community.”

Graeme Milligan, Executive Director Resilience, from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, provided an update on the Plan at the FMA National Conference in May.

Winner of the Community Award was YFS/Substation33 for their work on Logan’s Flooded Roads Smart Warning System, developed in partnership with Logan City Council and Griffith University.

The technology improves public safety through the use of low-cost automatic flood warning signs and was exhibited at the FMA Conference. The system is made with recycled e-waste and has been installed in 35 locations around Logan. For more information see the Substation 33 website.

Read more about the Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards at the QRA website.

TWEED COUNCIL WINS NSW RESILIENCE AWARD

Pictured: Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest, congratulates Tweed Shire Council General Manager, Troy Green and Acting Manager Land & Economic Development, Ray Musgrave, on the NSW Resilient Australia Award for the Industry Central Land Swap Project. Photo credit: Tweed Shire Council.

Tweed Shire Council has won the NSW Section, Local Government Category, of the Resilient Australia Awards for its Industry Central Land Swap Project.

The initiative allowed eligible land owners who were directly impacted by the 2017 flood in South Murwillumbah to enter an expression of interest process and, if successful, swap their flood-prone land with Council-owned flood free land at Industry Central, Murwillumbah.

Council purchased the 14 hectares of land with funding assistance from the NSW Government.

The strategy was developed following 2017 ex-tropical cyclone Debbie, which highlighted the profound impact losses to local businesses would have on the wider community. For details see the Tweed Council Newsroom.

The Resilient Australia Awards is a national program that recognises initiatives to strengthen community disaster resilience. The NSW awards are coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management.

Winners of the state and territory award categories automatically progress to consideration for the national awards on 31 October.

Also in the Tweed area Murwillumbah Public School was Highly Commended in the School Category for its Project Floodwatch. By partnering with the NSW State Emergency Service students were able to use technology to create apps, websites and 3D models to develop solutions for their local flood risk. Students developed a greater understanding about floods and preparation, and shared this knowledge with the wider community.

Read more about NSW winners at the Office of Emergency Management website.

BRISBANE RIVER SESSION WEDNESDAY 2 OCT

The Queensland Water Panel (part of Engineers Australia) is hosting a session to unpack the Brisbane River Strategic Floodplain Management Plan this week on Wednesday 2 October from 11.30am at Brisbane.

The session includes presentations from:

Graeme Milligan (Queensland Reconstruction Authority)

Ella Harrison (WMAwater)

Katrina Smith (WMAwater)

Philip Haines (BMT)

Carrie Dearnley (BMT)

Dr Sharmil Markar (WRM Water and Environment)

Shannon Haines (Ethos Urban).

The study will be of great interest to the flood and planning industry in Queensland and will be of particular interest for anyone living in Brisbane and surrounding areas.

For more information and registration please visit the Engineers Australia website.

WELCOME CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC

This month we welcome Campbell Scientific to FMA’s ever growing national network of flood risk professionals.

Campbell Scientific designs and builds globally recognised flood observation and warning systems. These include standard ALERT, ALERT2, hybrid ALERT, and customised systems including turn-key transmitters packaged in traditional ALERT-style canisters for standpipe installation.

To find out more about Campbell Scientific and their activities, please visit www.campbellsci.com.au

If you’re interested in joining the network, or know someone who would, head over to floods.org.au/site/membership to find out how.

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.

Join the Young Floodplain Managers (YFM) at our end of year networking event! Meet and get to know other young professionals at a casual event on Tuesday 12th of November in Sydney.

The event will be free for attendees, however please register here at Eventbrite as space will be limited. Details of the venue will be updated shortly.

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.

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

INTERNATIONAL RIVER SYMPOSIUM THIS MONTH

The 22nd International RiverSymposium is being held in Brisbane this month from 20-24 October.

This year’s RiverSymposium will showcase innovative programs, host interactive sessions and celebrate success from around the world that are transforming their rivers into resilient rivers.

Over 600 delegates are expected to attend from many different sectors and industries such as:

Education/Research

River/NRM Management

Utility

Government

Consultancy

Community

Not-for-profit

Corporate.

The event is sure to be a melting pot of diverse innovation and excellence in all elements of river information. Throughout the Conference week, aside from the Conference proper, on offer there are study tours, prizes and awards (such as the RiverPrize, Vera Thiess Fellowship for Women, Emerging River Leader Award and the Ken Thiess Memorial Scholarship), and the Emerging Water Professionals Program.

For more on the event including online registration, please visit https://riversymposium.com/