| FLYER ISSUE 10:
OCTOBER 2020
| READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTg1OA==/fma-flyer-10-october.htm
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NEXT FMA MEETING: COMBINED QLD + NSW/ACT CHAPTER MEETING 19 NOVEMBER ONLINE
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements has been conducted and the final report was released on 30 October 2020.
During the inquiry the Commission was told that Australia has major gaps in its readiness for disasters.
The inquiry was told that up-to-date risk mapping for both floods and bushfires in Australia is lacking. Former Director-General of Emergency Management Australia, Mark Crosweller, stated that Australia’s resilience and recovery capability is behind, and that we are past a “tipping point” with increasingly common disasters.
The Royal Commission was told that there was a string of “connected extremes” over the past year that included flooding, coastal erosion, and hailstorms on top of the 2019-2020 bushfires. The Commission has been advised that Australia needs to get a better handle on its present and future vulnerabilities to prepare for disaster risks.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has declared that a La Nina is currently underway, forecasting a wet spring and summer for eastern Australia.
Australia can expect eleven tropical cyclones between November 2020 and April 2021.
Already we have seen major flooding in Broken Hill in September this year and one life has been lost as a result. Major flash flooding in Sydney, Brisbane and south east Queensland has again occurred in the last week of October.
Meanwhile, overseas, Storm Alex caused devastating flash floods near Nice on the French/Italian border, destroying dozens of houses, washing away roads and killing at least seven people.
And in Vietnam and Cambodia major flooding has so far killed at least 132 people and an estimated 5 million people have been affected.
Our up-coming FMA Conference in 2021 will focus on “a flood resilient future”, which as we can see from the above is going to be a huge task for Australia and it is only getting more challenging.
It’s time to “dust off” the Productivity Commission report from 2014 and start implementing its recommendations by investing in mitigation.
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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ONLINE NOVEMBER QUARTERLY MEETING
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FMA will again be combining its upcoming November Quarterly Meetings (Queensland and NSW/ACT Chapters), and convening online in the interest of keeping our Members safe during current social restrictions.
The Meeting will be held on 19 November from 10.30 at http://live.baxav.com.au/fma/.
During the Meeting, you will hear updates from the FMA Executive, the Young Floodplain Managers network, NSW Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, NSW and ACT State Emergency Service, VIC Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Bureau of Meteorology.
After the conclusion of the Meeting proper, FMA is partnering with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) for the live afternoon workshop. Titled “Flood Emergency Planning for Disaster Resilience” the workshop will formally launch and showcase the recently finalised Flood Emergency Planning for Disaster Resilience Handbook (more on this workshop
further in the Flyer.)
More details about the online Meeting will be circulated at a closer date, but until then please save the following information:
When: Thursday 19 November 2020
Time: 10.30am
Where: Online (http://live.baxav.com.au/fma/)
Cost: Free
Please advise your proposed attendance to Dominique Jovanovic at [email protected].
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2021 CONFERENCE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS NOW OPEN
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The 2021 Conference in Sydney marks the 60th Anniversary of FMA, and will celebrate the history of the organisation, the Members that make the network possible, and the phenomenal advances in flood risk management.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Essential knowledge for a flood resilient future”, which will focus on the latest developments and achievements in flood and emergency management to assist in identifying, planning for and managing flood risks, and building disaster resilient communities.
Tertiary students studying floodplain management or natural disaster management and Young Floodplain Managers are particularly encouraged to participate and share their experiences.
The subject of the presentation should align with one or more of the following topic areas:
- National collaboration and coordination
- Data, devices and information management
- Modelling
- Flood prediction and warning
- Land use planning
- Infrastructure projects and asset management
- Flood policy, guidance and best practice
- Social and cultural aspects
- Emergency preparedness, response and recovery
- Flood stories and case studies
- Environmental aspects, climate change, coastal hazards and adaptation.
Call for Abstracts Close Friday 27th November 2020.
For further information on the Conference, and abstract submission, visit floodplainconference.com.
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NOVEMBER FLOOD EMERGENCY PLANNING WORKSHOP
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FMA is partnering with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) for the next Online Quarterly Workshop on Thursday 19 November.
Titled “Flood Emergency Planning for Disaster Resilience” the workshop will formally launch and showcase the recently finalised Flood Emergency Planning for Disaster Resilience Handbook.
The Workshop will provide an overview of the Handbook series, and feature leading Australian experts who contributed to the new Handbook as they unpack the principles and practice of flood emergency planning.
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ROYAL COMMISSION DISASTER ARRANGEMENTS REPORT RELEASED
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The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements has concluded, and the report was tabled in the Australian Parliament on 30 October. The inquiry was established in February in response to the 2019-2020 extreme bushfire season.
FMA provided submissions in April and September covering actions which should be taken to reduce the impacts of flood disasters, including the need for increased technical and financial resources for Councils to effectively manage flood risks, supporting appropriate land use legislation, and highlighting improvements required to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements particularly
funding for betterment to reduce the likelihood of recurring damage.
The 500 page report focused on the need for a national approach to natural disasters. "This does not mean that the Australian Government should ‘take over’ from state and territory governments. Rather, it means that we need ‘whole-of-nation’, ‘whole-of-government’ and ‘whole-of-society’ cooperation and effort.”
Of the 80 recommendations it is pleasing to see that key issues identified by FMA are included:
Recommendation 11.1 Responsibility for local government disaster management capability and capacity
State and Territory governments should take responsibility for the capability and capacity of local governments to which they have delegated their responsibilities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters, to ensure local governments are able to effectively discharge the responsibilities devolved to them.
19.3 Mandatory consideration of natural disaster risk in land-use planning in land use planning decisions
State, territory and local governments should be required to consider present and future natural disaster risk when making land-use planning decisions for new developments.
Recommendation 22.6 Better incorporate ‘build back better’ within Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
Australian, state and territory governments should incorporate the principle of ‘build back better’ more broadly into the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Recommendation 22.7 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements recovery measures to facilitate resilience
Australian, state and territory governments should broaden Category D of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to encompass funding for measures that are focused on resilience, including in circumstances which are not ‘exceptional’.
Recommendation 22.8 Streamline the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
Australian, state and territory governments should create simpler Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements application processes.
The Royal Commission Report is available at: naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au/
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NSW EMERGENCY PLANNING HANDBOOK LAUNCHED
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The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) hosted a webinar this month to launch the latest in its series of Handbooks: The Emergency Planning Handbook.
The handbook provides nationally agreed principles for good practice in emergency planning and reflects changes in the field of disaster risk reduction, emergency management and in society since publication of the Emergency Planning Manual (2004). Some of the changes influencing the handbook include new approaches to disaster risk reduction, resilience, recovery, public,
private and not-for profit partnerships and community engagement.
Access the Emergency Planning Handbook and the entire Handbook Collection at the AIDR Knowledge Hub: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/collections/handbook-collection/
To learn more about the AIDR Handbooks and how they can help you in your flood risk management role be sure to log in to the FMA-AIDR Workshop on Thursday 19 November. Details to be provided soon.
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PROPOSED NSW DAM SAFETY LEVY
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FMA has provided feedback to Dams Safety NSW objecting to its proposed levy on flood mitigation detention basins.
As we advised NSW Members earlier this month Dams Safety NSW is proposing a change to the Dams Safety Regulation 2019 which would require owners of declared dams to pay a levy to meet costs of administering the Dams Safety Act.
The proposed annual charges range from $5,500 for a dam classified as being very low or low consequence, to $18,425 for a dam that is classified as extreme consequence. Owners of multiple dams face the prospect of very significant ongoing fees.
Dams Safety NSW “declares” dams that have a potential to endanger downstream life, cause major damage or loss to infrastructure or the environment, or have major health and social impacts. Once a dam is declared, the dam owner must comply with the requirements of the Dams Safety Act 2015 and the Dams Safety Regulation 2019.
Declared dams can include flood mitigation retarding, detention and retention basins, many of which are owned by Councils. Around 80 Local Government owned flood mitigation basins have been “declared” by Dams NSW.
Councils with flood mitigation basins have raised concerns with FMA that the imposition of the levy could be considered cost shifting, and would significantly impact on Councils’ operational budgets. One Council has advised that application of these fees would double the annual cost of maintaining its flood retention basins.
FMA is concerned that these very significant annual charges, particularly when multiple structures are involved, would provide a disincentive for Local Government to provide further flood mitigation structures.
The provision of flood mitigation infrastructure is not a commercial operation for which charges can be applied, such as water supply. Flood mitigation basins provide essential public safety benefit, and FMA considers they should be exempt from the proposed Dam Safety Levy.
More details about the proposed levy are at: https://www.damsafety.nsw.gov.au/reforms/2020-reform-dam-safety-levy/
FMA’s submission is at: floods.org.au/site/fma-submissions
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REGULATOR ADVOCATES GREATER INVESTMENT IN MITIGATION
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In his August speech to the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities Geoff Summerhayes, Executive Board Member at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), discussed the rising cost of insurance and the “protection gap”, the difference between economic damage caused by natural disasters and insured losses.
“Without access to appropriate general insurance, households and businesses would be less confident to invest or take financial risks in vulnerable parts of the country. Access to credit may be reduced, while credit risk for existing loans would rise. Communities would take longer to recover in the aftermath of disasters, and more of the financial burden of recovery would fall on
governments and – by extension – taxpayers. For these reasons, countries with larger insurance protection gaps typically suffer more severe economic consequences after disasters, such as reduced productivity and higher debt levels”.
Mr Summerhayes said APRA’s view is that declining insurance affordability and accessibility in Australia’s north can best be meaningfully and sustainably addressed by tackling the root cause: the high, rising and volatile cost of natural disasters. “The most effective way to do this is through greater investment in mitigation to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure from
damage.”
“There is no doubt that some physical mitigation measures, such as flood levees or sea walls, can be expensive, however the billions spent each year cleaning up from disasters suggests the money is there – it’s just being spent after the damage is done. There is a lot of merit in the Productivity Commission’s assessment that paying for mitigation is far cheaper than paying for
post-event remediation, and enduring the subsequent economic repercussions.”
Read the full speech at: https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/executive-board-member-geoff-summerhayes-speech-to-australian-business
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FMA's Webinar Series is continuing this week with Ben Patterson’s (Royal HaskoningDHV) presentation Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme: Wallalong Levee, Aberdeen Levee and Wallis Creek Floodgates – Upgrade Works currently available in the Members' Section of floods.org.au.
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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.
The next webinar presentation to be made available is from David Cox at SMEC titled Planes, Trains and Auto Malls: A Dutch Innovation for Climate Change in Brisbane.
This webinar will be accessible from 12-26 November.
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FMA would like to welcome two new Corporate Members to the Membership:
Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
Glenelg Hopkins CMA was established by the State Government of Victoria in 1997 to manage land and water resources in the south west region of Victoria, Australia.
Glenelg Hopkins CMA’s aim is to reduce the impacts of floods by taking action before they occur by protecting the life, property and community assets from flooding; the natural functions of floodplains and waterways; and the floodplain areas of environmental significance. Flooding in urban and rural areas of the region costs a considerable amount each year, and the human impact is even greater.
To find out more about Glenelg Hopkins, visit https://www.ghcma.vic.gov.au/
Geoscience Australia
Geoscience Australia is a federal government research organisation with links to flood through its ‘Supporting Australia’s community safety’ science stream. In
particular, Geoscience Australia:
- provides a central access point for stakeholders to share flood information through the Australian Flood Risk Information Portal
- provides the national access point for public good satellite data, which enables Geoscience Australia to provide satellite imagery and derived flood extent products
- supports Emergency Management Australia to understand what is exposed to floods before, during and after events
- develops national-scale datasets that supports the understanding of flood hazard and risk
- increases the national flood guidance available to support the development of consistent and robust flood studies and risk assessments through mechanisms such as the revision of Australian Rainfall and Runoff
- collaborates nationally to enhance flood hazard, impact and risk tools and models
- conducts post-disaster surveys to understand how flood impacts the built environment
- develops vulnerability models for assessing flood damage
- undertakes research into household resilience to flood.
Visit https://www.ga.gov.au/ to find out more.
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YFM Queensland was pleased to launch on the 13th October via an online interactive webinar, with attendance from across the state. Three speakers Nichole Bichel, Justin Fischer and Wesley Bailey discussed their experiences working through a flood disaster (Lockyer Valley 2011, Townsville 2019) and the impact of the experience on their career.
A recording of the webinar and panel session is available to FMA members via the Members’ Section of floods.org.au. We look forward to hosting another all-QLD virtual webinar at the beginning of 2021!
Update from Victorian YFM: The Committee has been selected and we are getting excited about getting out of lockdown and organising our first YFM Victoria event.
PS. YFM is hosting another Monte Carlo Mixer on Friday 20th November and are busy planning a YFM End of Year event! Keep your eye on floods.org.au/yfm for more information and registration details over the coming weeks.
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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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Do you have an FMA Cap or Beanie photo you'd like to share with Flyer readers?
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