6.4.3. Voluntary House Raising

6.4.2.2. Recommendation

It is recommended that Council adopt the Flood Planning Areas based on the extent formed by the 1% AEP mainstream flooding event plus 0.3 m freeboard. Mapping is shown on Figure 4.

With the Flood Planning Area defined in the LEP, it is not necessary for the map itself to be contained within the LEP in accordance with the Flood Prone Land Package. The Flood Planning Area may be updated following future Floodplain Risk Management Studies in the LGA, and it is useful to be able to update the Flood Planning Area map as future FRMS&Ps are adopted, without going through the planning proposal process (to amend the LEP) each time a study is completed.

PM-02: Flood Planning Area

FPA derived from the 1% AEP plus 300 mm mainstream flood extent.

6.4.3.Voluntary House Raising

Voluntary house raising (VHR) seeks to reduce the frequency of exposure to flood damage of the house and its contents by raising the house above the Flood Planning Level (FPL). This results in a reduction in the frequency of household disruption and associated trauma and anxiety, however other external flood risks remain, such as the need to evacuate prior to properties being isolated by floodwaters. Council’s development controls would act to reduce flood risk to these properties in the long term as redevelopment would require floor levels to be raised to the FPL. While this would ultimately have a similar outcome to VHR, it would take significantly longer to achieve as house redevelopment would be contingent on residents’ appetite to rebuild, and properties would be subject to risk from floods occurring in the interim. The potential for voluntary house raising schemes were considered and assessed for each village, described in detail in the relevant appendices. From this, the following options are recommendations are made.

6.4.3.1. Recommendation PM-04: Voluntary House Raising

Further investigate viability of a VHR schemes for Boree Creek, Morundah and Urana, and prepare funding application documentation for any viable properties. This should include confirmation of the structural compatibility of the identified buildings and a more accurate cost estimate of raising first floor levels to at least the 1% AEP plus 300mm level. DRAFT FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION