| FLYER ISSUE 9: SEPTEMBER
2020
| READ IN BROWSER https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist3776483/MzcwMTgwOQ==/fma-flyer-9-september.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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In the last month I’ve attended the South East Queensland Flood Community of Practice workshops in Brisbane coordinated by Piet Filet.
The first one discussed flood modelling and the various modelling programs available today.
Our modelling “nerds” have come a long way in the last 20 years or more, especially with 2D modelling, and there will be more advances as the science continues to evolve in the next 20 years.
I suppose to the layperson, the question will always be “which software program gives the right answers?”
Someone once said, “all models are wrong, it’s just that some models are less wrong than others”.
I imagine the future will bring many more improvements such as refined Lidar accuracy, replication of wave action, faster computers that run scenarios in 24 minutes instead of 24 hours and further evolution of Australian Rainfall and Runoff.
In the meantime, we need to satisfy our communities that our models are reliable.
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When I’m standing and presenting results to my local council meeting, should I worry what algorithms are in the program or what Manning’s “n” is hidden in there? The community is only interested in whether or not the model is accurately calibrated to real events and whether some reasonable statistical analysis has been done to have confidence in the
calculated range of potential flood events.
Sometimes life as a Floodplain Manager is a delicate balance between being a “Nerd” and being pragmatic.
Good luck comrades!
ID
Ian Dinham | FMA President
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ONLINE NOVEMBER QUARTERLY MEETING
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The upcoming FMA Meetings for November were to be convened in Brisbane and Sydney. However, due to continuing social restrictions, FMA will be combining these Meetings into one online event.
What: FMA Online November Quarterly Meeting
When: Thursday 19 November beginning at 10.30am
Where: Online, link will be circulated at a closer date.
For those Members who took part in our recent Online August Combined Meeting and the 2020 National Conference, you will be familiar with the platform we will be using to host the event. Throughout the day, you will hear live updates from the FMA Executive, Departments and Agencies from Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Victoria, as well the Young Floodplain Managers network.
After the Meeting proper, FMA will convene an live afternoon workshop which will be of interest to FMA Members. Details on the workshop will be made available shortly.
While it is not possible for us to meet again in person quite yet, we look forward to seeing you logging on and engaging with our presenters through the Q&A sections of the day.
Please save the date in your diaries now - Thursday 19 November 2020.
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FLOOD INSURANCE WORKSHOP RECORDING AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS
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During the Online August Quarterly Meeting, FMA convened a live workshop with Karl Sullivan, Head of Risk and Operations, Insurance Council of Australia, which was titled Developments in Flood Insurance and included a comprehensive Q&A session.
Mr Sullivan discussed the development of flood insurance since 2007 to the present day, the role of the ICA in flood risk management and addressed questions from participants.
The session was introduced and facilitated by FMA Queensland Director Will Prentice.
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Members can now view the recording of this Afternoon Workshop in the Members Section of floods.org.au.
This is exclusive to FMA Members. If you are not a Member, but would like to join please visit floods.org.au/membership.
If you have not registered for the Members’ Section of floods.org.au, or have forgotten your login details, contact [email protected].
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PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR 60th ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE
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Preparations are well in hand for FMA’s 60th Anniversary Conference to be held at Sydney’s iconic Luna Park function centre from 25 to 28 May 2021.
The national Program Advisory Committee (PAC) is now considering the conference theme and topics in preparation for the Call for Abstracts which will open in mid-October.
The PAC has representatives from across Australia, plus the Young Floodplain Managers group, and in an exciting development this year, membership includes a New Zealand representative.
New Zealanders have regularly participated in and presented at FMA Conferences, and discussions were commenced in 2019 about the opportunity for an AUS-NZ collaboration around the 2021 Sydney Conference.
We are now pleased to announce that Sharyn Westlake, Team Leader Floodplain Management Plan Implementation at Greater Wellington Regional Council, will join the PAC.
Greater Wellington Council is at the southern end of the North Island, and is responsible for one of the largest flood protection schemes in New Zealand.
Despite the obvious uncertainties we are committed to having a conference in some form - face to face, on line, or a hybrid of the two - so make sure to save the date: 25 to 28 May 2021.
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FMA COMMENTS ON DISASTER INQUIRY PROPOSITIONS
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The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements was established in February in response to the 2019-2020 extreme bushfire season. FMA provided a submission in April covering actions which should be taken to reduce the impacts of flood disasters, the need for funding for flood risk mitigation, improvements to disaster recovery funding arrangements,
and the need for improved land use planning and building controls.
The Initial Observations from the Commission were published on 31 August, and a set of draft propositions prepared by Counsel Assisting and staff of the Office of the Commission was published for comment on 4 September.
FMA responded to the draft Propositions, raising 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 including funding for betterment to reduce the likelihood of recurring damage.
The Royal Commission is now finalising its report to present to the Governor-General by 28 October.
For information on the Inquiry visit: naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au
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INTENSE SHORT DURATION RAINFALL TO INCREASE ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA
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IAG has released the second edition of the Severe Weather in a Changing Climate report, in partnership with the US-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
This report builds on the first report released in November and notes that climate change will result in more frequent and intense extreme weather events across Australia, resulting in greater property, personal and economic damage, and hardship for Australian communities.
The report states that with a warming climate "Intense short duration rainfall is expected to increase almost everywhere in Australia, even in regions with ongoing drying trends, resulting in more frequent and severe flash flooding in urban areas and small, fast response river catchments.”
In regard to tropical cyclones (TCs) the report states that warming oceans will enable cyclones to retain higher intensities further south, and penetrate further inland in the south-east Queensland and north-east NSW regions. “Planning for inland penetration of TCs needs to allow for substantial increases in rainfall rate, storm total rainfall and total area affected, increasing the risk of coincident major floods
in multiple river systems.”
The report covers climate warming scenarios and their impacts on precipitation and flooding, tropical cyclones, east coast lows, hailstorms, bushfires and ocean related events.
To access the report and the watch the webcast of the launch event featuring key contributors visit: iag.com.au/severe-weather-changing-climate-2nd-edition
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IT'S OFFICIAL - LA NIÑA HAS ARRIVED
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After months of speculation the Bureau of Meteorology has announced that La Niña is established in the tropical Pacific, and that all surveyed international climate models indicate this La Niña will persist until at least January 2021.
The Bureau’s Climate Driver Update states “While models agree La Niña will continue well into summer 2020–21, around half the models predict a strong event, while 3 of 8 models suggest moderate strength. Overall, models do not currently anticipate this event will be as strong as the La Niña of 2010–12,
which was one of the four strongest La Niñas on record. The strength of La Niña impacts on Australia are often related to the strength of the event.”
The last La Niña event occurred from 2010-2012 and resulted in one of Australia’s wettest two-year periods on record, with widespread flooding occurred in many parts of Australia.
The Climate Driver Update is at: www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/
More on the announcement, including interesting videos explaining the La Niña process, is at: media.bom.gov.au/releases/799/bureau-of-meteorology-raises-la-nina-status-to-active/
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WELCOME TO THE MEMBERSHIP MWA ENVIRONMENTAL
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FMA would like to welcome MWA Environmental to our national network of flood professionals.
MWA provides specialist engineering and environmental services to developers, government and professional clients, as well as offering complete packages in environmental assessment, management and monitoring.
The specialist fields covered by their multi-disciplinary staff include acoustics, air quality, hydrology and hydraulics, water quality and ecology.
MWA Environmental's services are relevant to residential, resort, commercial, industrial and infrastructure development in urban, rural and natural environments.
To find out more about MWA Environmental, visit www.mwaenviro.com.au, or for more information on joining Floodplain Management Australia head to floods.org.au/membership.
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GET READY QUEENSLAND SCHOOLS COMPETITION
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Queensland primary schools are being encouraged to prepare for the coming storm and fire season by taking part in a new competition with a chance to win a visit from footy legend Johnathan Thurston.
Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Cameron Dick announced the competition this month.
A range of activity sheets are provided at the Get Ready Queensland website for students to colour in and personalise their chosen preparedness activity.
Students can create a ‘Get Ready wall’ in their classrooms showing ways households can prepare for the disaster season, and can enter a picture of their wall for a chance to win a visit from Get Ready Queensland Ambassador Johnathan Thurston.
Read more at: getready.qld.gov.au/schools.
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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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