Submission to Senate Inquiry into Stormwater Resources in Australia

Floodplain Management Association
Supporting Wise Planning and Development
www.floods.org.au ABN 67 007 279 179
Chairman: Ian Dinham 0435 946 525
8 May 2015
The Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Committee
FMA Submission to Senate Inquiry into Stormwater Resources in Australia
The Floodplain Management Association (FMA) welcomes the opportunity to make a
submission to the Senate Committee on Environment and Communications Inquiry into
Stormwater Resources in Australia.
Flooding from rivers and local catchments, ie stormwater, is the most costly and yet most
manageable of natural disasters in Australia. Damage and disruption caused by flooding is
estimated to cost Australia around $550 million a year. Climate change trends towards an
increase in storm severity with more intense rainfall and higher ocean levels are likely to
increase the prevalence and severity of flooding and associated damage.
Flooding caused by overland flow of stormwater is a technically and administratively
complex issue. While substantial work has been undertaken in most states to identify and
manage riverine flood risks little work has been undertaken in regard to stormwater flooding.
About the Floodplain Management Association
Established in 1961 to support and promote best practice in floodplain management across
NSW, the FMA now provides an authoritative and increasingly national voice on flood
resilience.
The FMA has a membership of over 120 local governments, catchment authorities,
consultants, businesses and individuals from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania
(see http://floods.org.au/fma-members/ for full list of members).
Membership and participation includes both technical staff and elected representatives. The
FMA is proud to bring together expertise and experience at all stages of the prevention,
preparedness, response and recovery spectrum. Our members are at the front-line of flood
risk assessment, flood management planning, decision making and community engagement.
They also implement and administer the current funding and policy arrangements for
mitigation, response and recovery.
The FMA has strong partnerships with key State and Commonwealth government agencies
including NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW
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Department of Planning and Environment, the Queensland Department of Infrastructure,
Local Government and Planning, Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment,
the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia. In addition, we have links to
equivalent organisations in the United States and the United Kingdom. Our international
network is invaluable in sharing flood management experience and expertise from other
nations with our members for the benefit of their communities
The FMA convenes an Annual Conference, the next being in Brisbane in May 2015. The
conferences generate a range of papers and presentations covering Australian and
international technical information, policy issues and case studies. The FMA website
provides a database of these resources http://floods.org.au/past-conferences/.
The quantum of stormwater resource in Australia and impact and potential of optimal
management practices in areas of flooding, environmental impacts, waterway
management and water resource planning
It is hard to determine the difference between stormwater and floodwater, and the definitions
and roles of different levels of government could be clearer to simplify planning and
management. In NSW Local Overland Flooding is defined by the Floodplain Development
Manual (2005 NSW Government) as “inundation by local runoff rather than overbank
discharge from a stream, river lake, estuary or dam”. Overland flooding activities are eligible
for subsidised funding by floodplain management programs, however drainage schemes are
not eligible.
The Floodplain Development Manual requires assessment of flooding from all possible
sources including overland flooding. Whilst Local Government is best placed to manage
flood risk within their local communities, not many Councils are presently addressing
overland flooding as it is a complicated issue often outside their area of expertise.
Management plans require not only complex technical analysis, but also balancing and
meeting needs of emergency management agencies, planning legislation and issues related
to flood insurance.
The role of scientific advances in improving stormwater management outcomes and
integrating these into policy at all levels of government to unlock the full suite of
economic benefits
Both “Managing the Floodplain: a guide to best practice in flood risk management in
Australia” (2013 edited and published by the Australian Emergency Management Institute,
part of the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department) and the NSW Floodplain
Development Manual recognise stormwater flooding as a risk that requires management.
The revision of “Australian Rainfall and Runoff” will allow more accurate estimation of storm
and floodwater volumes, and substantial work has been undertaken in most states to identify
and manage riverine flood risks. However, little work has been undertaken in regard
to stormwater flooding. Despite the significant damages caused by stormwater flooding there
has been minimal mapping and analysis, and management of associated risks.
Further resources are required to redress these inadequacies.
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Model land use planning and building controls to maximise benefits and minimise
impacts in both new and legacy situation
The FMA supports floodplain development guided by wise land use planning which has been
based on appropriate investigation, consideration, and management of risks. The
Productivity Commission Report on Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements has also
identified the potential for sound land use planning to avoid future flood losses.
A lack of clarity in regard to land use planning requirements or disregard for risks has at
times resulted in development and occupants being exposed to avoidable stormwater flood
hazards, or required retro-fitted solutions which can be very expensive.
Unambiguous land use planning principles which appropriately consider flood risk and
ensure that development follows a Water Sensitive Urban Design approach will in time be
more cost effective in terms of avoiding personal and business losses, and economic
disruption as a result of flood events.
Funding models and incentives to support strategic planning and investment in
desirable stormwater management, including local prioritisation
Given the recognised role that stormwater drainage plays in overland and urban flooding,
drainage schemes should be readily eligible for funding under Floodplain Management
Programs as flood mitigation systems.
The cost of land purchased to accommodate stormwater improvement facilities, such as
detention basins, infiltration basins, and treatment wetlands, should similarly be eligible for
grant funding, as the land component is often the most expensive part of retrofit schemes.
Alternative funding methods such as Section 94 developer contributions are generally not
able to be used to address existing flooding problems, only those parts attributable to the
new development.
In regard to stormwater harvesting activities, areas of high seasonal rainfall will generally
have limited cost-benefit ratios compared with the drier metropolitan areas, such as Sydney.
Government policy needs to avoid a "one size fits all" approach.
Asset management and operations to encourage efficient investments and longevity
of benefit
Flooding has well documented environmental benefits for a range of ecosystems and flora
and fauna communities which need to be maintained, and if possible enhanced, through
appropriate operation of drainage and flood mitigation schemes.
Councils and other drainage authorities need to be able to efficiently maintain their drainage
and flood mitigation assets, provided relevant environmental safeguards are in place, without
undue regulation and approvals processes which can frequently cause unnecessarily delays
and cost.
Local Government infrastructure can be significantly damaged by overland stormwater and
natural disaster recovery funding for reinstatement of assets must also provide for
reasonable “betterment” to a standard which will avoid or minimise the recurrence of flood
damage.
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Conclusion
The Floodplain Management Association appreciates the opportunity to provide input to the
Inquiry on behalf of floodplain Councils, catchment authorities, businesses and
professionals. The FMA brings together expertise and experience from all aspects of flood
prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, which we would be pleased to contribute
further to the Inquiry as required.
Glenn Evans
Executive Officer
Floodplain Management Association
Please address correspondence to:
Glenn Evans Executive Officer Floodplain Management Association
115 Marshall Street Garden Suburb NSW 2289
Email eo@floods.org.au
Phone 0415 873353
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