Transcript Document

The Floodplain:
fertile ground for
land use planning
reform in Queensland
Michael Zissis, Allens Arthur Robinson
2012 PIA National Congress
2
Outline
• Queensland land use planning
regime
• QFCOI findings about
implementation of regime
• Recommendations to address
implementation issues and for
reform
• Lessons learnt
•
Image on previous slide: The vast floodplain adjacent to the Fitzroy
River and its tributaries is inundated by flood waters near
Rockhampton, January 2011. Photo by Michael Marston (reproduced
from Queensland Chief Scientist, Understanding floods questions &
answers (June 2011). State of Queensland, inside cover)
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Land use planning regime in Queensland
• Framework of
state and local
planning
instruments
• SPP1/03
–
“development considers
that development should
minimise the potential
adverse impacts of flood...
on people, property,
economic activity and the
environment”
– Development
outcomes
– Currently under
review
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Implementing SPP1/03
• Relies on identification of natural hazard management areas (flood)
•
Selection of DFE subject to “time consuming and expensive” process in
SCRAM Report
• Relies on adoption by local government
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Implementing SPP1/03
• QFCOI found “there is a
wholly inadequate level of
flood mapping in
Queensland”
• Local planning schemes:
– 63% with no flood mapping
– 9% with SPP1/03 compliant
flood mapping
• Recall Victorian Bushfires
Royal Commission findings
•
Images reproduced from QFCOI Final Report; top photo flood road at
Jondaryan, January 2011 by G Cooke, Jondaryan District Residents
Association; bottom photo aerial Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, January
2011 by Courier Mail)
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Recommendations
• Interim measures
– State-wide mapping by QRA →
Interim Flood Assessment Overlay
and temporary state planning policy
– Temporary local planning
instruments
• 4.5 – change TSPP so councils
cannot use IFAO as permanent
amendment to planning scheme
• 5.8 - consider providing councils
power to remake / extend TLPIs
containing interim flood
regulation
•
IFAO Map of Fitzroy River Sub-Basin (reproduced from Queensland
Reconstruction Authority website)
• 5.9 - consider allowing councils
to amend a planning scheme to
update flood mapping by minor
amendment
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Recommendations
Fit-for-purpose flood mapping
• 2.5 – Gov’t should rank urban areas which do not have access to flood
information in order of need for updated flood information
• 2.13 - For urban areas / where development expected:
– resourced councils should develop flood map with ≥3 ‘zones of risk’ (likelihood +
behaviour)
– un-resourced councils should produce flood behaviour map with extent of floods
for ≥3 likelihoods
• 2.14 - For non-urban areas / where limited development expected, councils
should undertake the highest ranked of the following options based on
financial and technical resources:
– a map showing ≥3 ‘zones of risk’
▪ a map showing extent of floods for ≥3 likelihoods
› a map based on historic flood levels based on a flood frequency analysis
» a historic flood map without flood frequency analysis
• the IFAO
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Recommendations
Model flood planning controls
• 5.1 / 5.2 / 5.4 / 5.6 - QG should draft
model flood planning controls that:
– councils can adapt for local conditions
– councils are required to reflect in planning
schemes
– includes requirement that council have a
flood overlay map
– includes a model flood overlay code that
consolidates assessment criteria relating to
flood
– includes a model planning scheme policy
that outlines development application
requirements
Grantham resident and dog on rooftop
awaiting rescue, 10 January 2011. Photo by
Wendy Friend (reproduced from
Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry,
Interim Report (August 2011). State of
Queensland, p237)
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Conclusion
• Lessons learnt from QFCOI
final report:
– SCARM risk-based approach to
floodplain management remains
best practice
– Be conscious of triggers for
implementation
▪ Are triggers reliant on further
action?
▪ Are transitional arrangements
necessary?
▪ Is the scope of exemptions
appropriate?
– Reform of Queensland
Floodplain – watch this space
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Images on previous slide: (top) Sandi Nock looks
around her living room which has shin-deep water
flowing through it, despite sandbags placed around the
home - the floodwaters just went over the top of them.
Photo by Jodie Richter (reproduced from
couriermail.com.au); (bottom) Flash flooding at the
intersection of Kitchener and James streets,
Toowoomba, 10 January 2011. Photo by Troy Campbell
(reproduced from Queensland Floods Commission of
Inquiry, Interim Report (August 2011). State of
Queensland. p 186)