| FLYER ISSUE 12: DECEMBER FLYER
2019
| READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTQzNA==/fma-flyer-12-december.htm
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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It’s hard to believe another year has passed…
I wish you and your families all the very best for this Festive Season and New Year. I hope you enjoy your time together in a relaxing and enjoyable way.
If you are among the many unfortunate people affected by the terrible bush fires and on-going drought FMA’s thoughts are with you, as we wish for meaningful, but not flooding, rains.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who has assisted or participated in Floodplain Management Australia activities and events over the past 12 months. Your time and dedication have allowed us to become bigger, better, stronger and more connected.
This Flyer is short and sweet so feel free to get in touch and let us know what you've been up to.
I look forward to working with you in the coming year.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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2019 was a busy year for FMA, and one that saw a continuing flurry of activity with Members as well as exciting new beginnings. For those of you who took part, we thank you.
FMA held its National Conference in the nation's capital, Canberra, in May and saw over 350 delegates from around the country and overseas brave the cold for the week. Keynote speaker Sarah Barker (Environment-Schmironment: Climate Change as a Finance and Liability Risk for State and Local Governments) and 125 other presenters challenged, informed and entertained us over four
days, we trialled the first ever Conference App, learned about new products, and awarded prizes and certificates for best posters, presentations, projects and flood risk managers. We ate delectable nibblies at the National Museum and saw Old Parliament House up close by creeping through darkened hallways and laughing with colleagues. It was an incredible week.
FMA's FRM Short Course, run in conjunction with the NSW Government at the University of Technology, Sydney, was another great success with blocks running in August, September and October. (Over 500 people have already taken this Course, but if you haven’t we highly recommend that you do - we will be running it again next year.)
In addition to FMA's Quarterly Meetings in Sydney and Brisbane throughout the year, the Executive travelled further north than ever before to convene a regional Meeting in Townsville for a series of briefings on the 2019 monsoon. Here we met some inspiring and innovative professionals and we hope to return again soon.
During the year our zealous Queensland Chapter Working Group has been delivering its Action Plan, and presented two workshops on Risk Based Land Use Planning.
This year, a new element of FMA was formed, with enthusiastic professionals Elise Armstrong, Joshua Eggleton, Isabelle Testoni and Duncan Howley at the helm; the Young Floodplain Managers (YFM). The YFM not only held its first networking event, but saw the demand and interest so high in the event that tickets sold fast. We can't wait to see what YFM has in store for the next 12
months.
Since January, we have seen many new Members join our ranks, who have helped us strengthen our voice as the leading flood risk management network in the country. We welcome you, and are privileged to have you as Members.
We at FMA are very excited for all that is to come in 2020, and hope you'll be there with us along the way.
Happy New Year!
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FMA Member Water Technology has just released it's latest edition of Waterlines.
Waterlines is an online newsletter that is produced each quarter and showcases the recent projects that Water Technology has been working on.
This edition focuses on Resilience and Adaptation Planning, with case studies including Greater Shepparton City Council, Goulburn Broken CMA, Wimmera CMA and the Bundaberg Region.
You can read the latest edition online and sign up to receive all future editions at the Water Technology website http://watertech.com.au/waterlines/
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NORTHERN AUSTRALIA INSURANCE REPORT RELEASED
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its second interim report for the Northern Australia Insurance Inquiry. The 334 page report and media release are available at www.accc.gov.au/insurance.
New findings include the extent of and reasons for non-insurance and barriers faced by insurers.
The Inquiry found that while there are sometimes fewer insurers, or insurance brands, supplying insurance to customers with high risk properties, it appears that insurance is generally available throughout northern Australia but this often comes at a significant cost.
The report considers the impacts of public and private mitigation measures on insurance premiums, but states “Reforms to land use planning and building standards may offer the best hope for achieving sustainable and equitable improvements to insurance affordability in northern Australia in the future. This will not directly help existing properties in high risk areas, but can help
avoid the problem of insurance affordability in northern Australia becoming significantly worse."
A focus for 2020 will be to work with insurers, planning bodies and other stakeholders to explore how insurance considerations can be factored into land use planning processes and consider the potential for greater information sharing to improve the affordability and availability of insurance for new developments.
Recommendations of particular interest are:
Recommendation 14: The insurance industry should work with governments to identify specific public mitigation works (e.g. flood levees) that could be undertaken and insurers should provide estimates of the premium reductions.
Recommendation 15: Building code changes to better protect interiors and contents.
Recommendation 28: Insurer quotes and renewal notices for home insurance to provide a schedule of mitigation works that could reduce premiums.
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2020 TOOWOOMBA CONFERENCE UPDATE
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Have you registered for our 2020 Conference in Toowoomba yet? Make sure you jump online at floodplainconference.com to get the full details of the best week in FRM of the year.
Remember, FMA Members get discounted registration rates - find all the details online at floodplainconference.com.
If you're not sure of your Membership number, or if your company is a current Member of FMA, contact us and we can help you out.
Special thanks to the following Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors who have already signed upBMT, Bureau of Meteorology, Royal HaskoningDHV, WMAwater, Allan & Dennis, HDR, AWMA Water Control Solutions and INNOVYZE.
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Thank you to all FMA Members who have made their Membership payments for the 2019-2020 year. Membership fees are FMA’s main source of operating income so prompt payment is greatly appreciated.
FMA Membership now includes over 140 Councils, local flood authorities, agencies, consultants, businesses and individuals from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, ACT and South Australia.
Membership is available to organisations and individuals involved in or with an interest in flood risk management.
Your Membership helps us to continue to undertake important activities, such as professional development and education opportunities, and represent your interests in the responsible management and development of Australia’s floodplains, and ensure a high-level national conference annually. It also provides access to a valuable network of practitioners with similar interests and
responsibilities in floodplain management.
If you know of an organisation or individual who may benefit from becoming a Member please refer them to the FMA website - floods.org.au.
Also, if you are unsure of your Membership payment status, contact us.
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On behalf of the YFM network we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2020! It has been an exciting year for the YFM network from its inception following this year's FMA National Conference, to the formation of the inaugural YFM committee, to the full house at the first networking event
in Sydney.
Thank you the the FMA (particularly Paul Grech and Dominique Jovanovic) for the guidance in establishing the YFM network, and to all the floodplain managers of all ages who have shown great support.
We look forward to rolling out some exciting initiatives in 2020 including involvement in the FMA National Conference in Toowoomba, further networking and workshop events, and an industry mentoring program to name a few. See you at the next event in 2020!
All the Best, YFM Committee.
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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.
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TRAVELLING CAPS AND BEANIES
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Pictured: Executive Officer Glenn Evans with his FMA Cap and Conference Bag
at the Newcastle Supercars in November.
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