DISCUSSION Variable flood hazards have been combined to visualise areas of greatest risk. These variables in situ in Figure 8 are classified on the 1-5 rating scale discussed earlier, clearly indicating risk is concentrated in coastal and southern areas, with the risk retracting toward the outer perimeter of greater Melbourne. The hazards underlying these areas of risk are mapped in Figure 9, and are most prominently attributed to three key classes in this local context: ●
Land use: the urban-rural gradient indicates reductive impervious surfacing from inner-city to peri-urban areas, generally trending south to north
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Geology: stark delineation of rock attributes from lowest percentage porosity to highest from east to west, a feature of Melbourne’s volcanic sand-belt legacy
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Elevation: the very flat landscape of inner Melbourne and coastal areas is contrasted against the higher elevations in the north, illustrating the low topography of the urban areas.
While these results are expected individually, when overlayed they offer powerful visualisations of these concentrated hazards. Vulnerabilities to infrastructure and human population have been illustrated in Figure 10, targeted for their criticality for population movement. A key contrasting attribute is population density, which is almost entirely confined to inner Melbourne. Of note across all figures, Richmond SA2, part of City of Yarra is referenced, including vulnerable infrastructure (train stations) and populations (aged care, hospitals, schools). Vulnerabilities and hazards are combined to narrow our focus to regions at greatest risk, shown in Figure 12. Based on this, key focus areas for flood planning and evacuation management suggest The Cities of Yarra and Wyndham, each with two SA2 regions in the top 5 highest risk. Across all figures, Richmond SA2, part of City of Yarra is referenced, including vulnerable infrastructure (train stations) and populations (aged care, hospitals, schools). Richmond includes arterial roads, and multiple public transport routes including trams and trains, including a main interchange at Richmond Station. At risk is industry - including large manufacturing factories and three of the 82 activity centres in the Melbourne 2030 strategy, and a world-class sporting precinct to name some of the key longevity streams (Wikipedia, 2019). Based on 2016 Census Data, The City of Yarra has a population three times higher than City of Wyndham (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). Coupled with its rich source of industry, Richmond must have the funding and resources to respond effectively to the recommendations, with funding strategies that can deliver climate change adaptation, as well as response planning. Vulnerable population - schools (children), hospital (sick), retirement villages (elderly) are illustrated in figures 13-15. Converse to the highest risk areas, hospitals and schools with lowest risk should be targeted for evacuation planning. Of the lowest risk potential crisis points, the closest for both the City of Yarra and the City of Wyndham are Mercy Public Hospital and Epping Secondary College - centres that should be included in disaster management planning. Potential crisis centres - hospitals and schools at lowest risk
Lowest risk hospitals
Lowest risk schools
The Northern Hospital
St Thomas More’s School
Mercy Public Hospital
Ferny Creek Primary School
The Bays Hospital
Epping Secondary College
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