Queensland’s state government has released a toolkit that aims to help local councils assess future development applications in terms of flood risk, and better align floodplain management and land use planning.
The toolkit, known as Planning for stronger, more resilient floodplains, is supported by an online interim floodplain assessment overlay map (aka floodplain map), which should cover 40% of the state by October. The layer can be viewed on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s interactive map.
The toolkit was developed in consultation with more than 10 councils, and will be available for others to consider for 40 days, commencing the 19th September 2011.
The release of the toolkit comes in the midst of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, which will resume public hearings next Monday, as it investigates the issues of land zoning and insurance in the wake of the devastating floods of early 2011.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the new flood mapping approach was developed on a whole-of-catchment view, rather than council by council.
"These are the areas where the state and councils need to focus in their assessment of future developments and types of development," she said in a statement.
"Sensible planning on floodplains is not about stopping development.
"We are simply saying extra caution needs to be shown about the location of developments and the types of structures built in floodplain areas."
The toolkit includes a standard template for a development assessment code and basic provisions to support better outcomes from development applications.
