| FLYER ISSUE 5: MAY FLYER
2020
| READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTY0NA==/fma-flyer-5-may.htm
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NEXT FMA MEETING: QLD CHAPTER 5 AUGUST | NSW/ACT CHAPTER 20 AUGUST
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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What a month we’ve had!
The big news is without doubt the hugely successful online FMA National Conference.
It was amazing to see it all run smoothly with great live and pre-recorded presentations and excellent interaction with the audience via Q&A after each live talk.
Behind the scenes there was non-stop communication off-line between Master of Ceremonies Gerry, the IT team, East Coast team, the FMA team and the next speaker, as well as various messages flying back and forth to keep things on track. I’m thankful that I’m not an IT guy as I could never have organised anything like the complexity of
such a “virtual” event.
Huge thanks to everyone involved and especially the speakers. Thank you so much for preparing and delivering the fantastic program that you did.
Congratulations to the FMA Executive and each of the Committees for believing that it could be done….and doing it!
It was great to see our Young Floodplain Managers inspiring us with presentations and also proposing a trivia night for great social interaction. Of course the “Eternal Glory” for winning the night goes to the slightly “less than young” Paul Grech and his team of Will and Sue!!
Overall, the response from all of you to register and participate was outstanding with anywhere up to 800 in total logging on over the 3 days.
Congratulations to all of you and I look forward to seeing you when our Quarterly Meetings can start again, as well as the wonderful conferences planned for Sydney Harbour in May 2021 and Toowoomba in 2022.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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FMA DIGITAL CONFERENCE WRAP UP
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During the 20th and 21st May, FMA held its National Conference online for the very first time. FMA has been convening it's annual Conferences for 60 years and it was with great excitement that we were able to adapt to the current social restrictions and go DIGITAL!
Over 800 people from Australia and around the world registered to attend the two day live-stream event, with additional extended access to over 20 Pre-Recorded presentations focussing on flood risk management. During the Conference, not only was there Q&A opportunity with live presenters, but a Virtual Trivia Night with our Young Floodplain Managers.
The Digital format of the FMA Conference was only successful due to the encouragement and support of FMA Members, sponsors and presenters. While it was change from our scheduled in-person event at Toowoomba, it was soothing to be able to connect with like-minded colleagues from around the nation and overseas.
Thank you all for taking part and making time for FMA during your not-business-as-usual circumstances. It truly demonstrates the strength of the FMA network and the links we have made over our past events.
We would love to hear about your Conference experience, so get in touch and let us know what you thought! East Coast Conferences sent out a Conference Feedback Survey and if you haven't completed it yet, please do so now - your feedback very important to us.
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FMA CLIMATE CHANGE POSITION PAPER
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In February FMA conducted a survey on Climate Change Flood Risk Provisions in Land Use Planning to better understand what policies and planning controls have been adopted by Councils in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
This was followed by a Workshop conducted by Land Use Planning Director Paul Grech at the Sydney FMA Meeting, which showed that there was considerable diversity between Councils as to which planning documents contained climate change flood risk related policies, the nature of the policies, and whether polices were adopted in the first place.
Members saw there would be benefit in FMA developing a Climate Change Position Policy to support Councils in preparing their own policies and to encourage greater consistency between Councils.
Mr Grech said a Position Paper would also assist FMA in progressing discussions with government agencies and other industry representative bodies, as well as challenging media commentary that conflicts with sound floodplain risk management principles.
In order to prepare the Position Paper, a Working Group is being established to formulate the terms of reference, and to define the scope of the paper and the extent of investigations to be undertaken. An invitation is extended for anyone to express an interest in being part of the Working Group by emailing Glenn Evans: [email protected]
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LAND USE PLANNING FOR DISASTER RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
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The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience has released a new handbook Land Use Planning for Disaster Resilient Communities, focusing on land use planning for new development and its role in supporting disaster resilient communities.
The handbook “introduces community wellbeing and disaster resilience as the overarching aim of land use planning and disaster risk reduction and outlines nationally agreed principles for land use planning for disaster resilient communities.”
The guidance covers urban fires and bushfires, floods, severe storms, coastal erosion, cyclones, tsunamis, extreme heat events and earthquakes, and includes advice on coincidence of events, multi hazards and cascading events. These latter occurrences were discussed by Andrew Gissing from Risk Frontiers at the recent FMA Digital Conference.
Working group members included Principal Flood Specialist Duncan McLuckie and Senior Natural Resource Officer (Floodplain Management) Angela Toniato from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, who provided input on flooding and emergency management.
The guideline is very relevant to FMA Members and can be downloaded at: knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/handbook-land-use-planning/
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FMA MOU WITH AUSTRALIAN HYDROGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION
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Pictured (from left): Ian Dinham (FMA President) and Arran Corbett (AHA President) in Brisbane.
FMA President Ian Dinham has signed an historic agreement with the Australian Hydrographers Association (AHA).
The agreement follows the attendance of AHA President Arran Corbett at the Queensland Chapter FMA Meeting in Brisbane in February, and discussions between AHA Executive Officer John Teres and FMA Executive Officer Glenn Evans.
Mr Dinham said understanding the likelihood, severity and extent of flooding requires input from a range of specialists, including hydrographers, who provide essential information about our river systems and waterways.
“FMA is thrilled to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Hydrographers Association and looks forward to sharing professional development, training and networking opportunities for the benefit of both our organisations."
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2021 CONFERENCE VENUE ANNOUNCED
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After months of speculation (or wild guesses?) Luna Park, Sydney, has been announced as the venue for next year’s FMA National Conference.
With first class function facilities, easy access from a range of accommodation, good public transport options, on-site parking and a location on Sydney Harbour you won’t want to rush away from when the Conference finishes on Friday afternoon, this is the ideal location for FMA’s 60th anniversary Conference.
The amusement park only operates for the general public from 11 am on Fridays then Saturdays and Sundays, so the site is used for conferences and events during the week.
East Coast Conferences has been engaged to manage the Conference, and has previously organised a successful event at Luna Park. Have a look at the venue website, particularly the video: lunaparkvenues.com/corporate.
Please reserve Tuesday 25 May to Friday 28 May for the 2021 FMA National Conference in Sydney.
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IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN
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FMA Members will soon be receiving their Membership Renewal Invoice for 2020-2021, so please watch for it in your inbox.
The annual subscription is FMA’s main source of operating income so we do appreciate your prompt payment. It is only through the support of Members that we can continue FMA’s advocacy, professional development, information sharing and networking services.
Fees have been retained at last year’s rates, and your Membership will entitle you to early access to the 2020 Digital FMA Conference papers and presentations (where these have been provided by the presenters) and discounted registration rates for next year’s 60th anniversary Conference in Sydney.
If you are not yet a Member, please check the FMA website for details on joining: floods.org.au/site/membership
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THE FLOOD THAT DESTROYED A TOWN
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The May/June edition of the NRMA magazine Open Road has an interesting historical item on The Flood that Destroyed a Town. The article describes the response of NRMA patrols sent from Newcastle and Sydney to provide assistance at Maitland in the NSW Hunter Valley after the 1955 flood.
The account includes a quote from Open Road April 1, 1955 “The patrols found indescribable confusion and destruction. The story of the floods generally has been told; as for the motoring aspect the scene as the water subsided was heart-breaking.”
There is also a reminder that “It’s happened before” referring to the 1930 flood at Maitland. See the article and historical photos at:
openroad.partica.online/clients/nrma/templates/homepage.html
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FMA Member Water Technology has released its new edition of Waterlines 'Waterways and Ecology'. Waterlines presents information about some of the work Water Technology professionals have been undertaking in Australia's waterways.
This month includes rehabilitating urban waterways, removing fish migration barriers and coastal management and planning in New South Wales.
You can read it online at http://watertech.com.au/waterlines/.
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The YFM had a great time at the Digital Conference two weeks ago, and enjoyed how accessible the digital format allowed the conference to be, particularly for more junior members of the industry as well as our regional counterparts. Well done to all the presenters and to FMA and East Coast
Conferences for pulling it off!
We would also like to thank everyone for coming to the trivia night – it was amazing to see so many industry greats doing the chicken dance via Zoom! We had 75 participants in total, making for the most chaotic and collaborative zoom meeting we’ve ever been part of.
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It was great to see conversations starting about setting up YFM chapters in other states too. If this is something you’re interested in getting involved with feel free to email us at [email protected] and we’ll put you in touch with other members in your state. As COVID-19 restrictions start
to lift we hope you are getting the chance to socialise with colleagues in small groups again, and look forward to organising more opportunities to network and socialise in real life!
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
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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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We know you can't travel at the moment, but we'd love to see you using your Conference cap or beanie around the house. Are you gardening with your cap? Relaxing by the firepit with your beanie?
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