ABSTRACT Floods are a natural phenomena that causes significant impacts on the communities, economy, built infrastructure and natural environments of Australia. From 1967 to 2013, the direct annual cost of flooding amounted to $943 million (Geoscience Australia). This, coupled with a long term economic and societal impacts and costs that consequent from flooding; it is imperative that responsible authorities pursue an adaptive flooding management approach to mitigate flooding disaster events.
The aim of this report is to provide the Victorian State Government emergency response and management plans for the Greater Melbourne region. The paper provides a synthesis of relevant literature on flood management and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for flood risk analysis. By applying both sources of information and analysis, this paper explores the appropriate criteria, variables and parameters used in spatial analysis. These variable were provided with weightings to indicate levels of risk to potentially affected areas in the Greater Melbourne Region. With the use of digital elevation models (DEM) and data, flood hazard and risk maps were produced for the general public of Greater Melbourne and relevant authorities responsible for the safety and resilience of communities. This paper addresses the gap in research and risk management analysis for Greater Melbourne, as there is limited scholarly research in this region of Australia concerned with flooding events. The findings from GIS analysis and review of existing literature contributed to the recommendations for population movement, environmental impact statements, industry response plans and infrastructural management and protection plans. However, despite limitations of data availability and limited experienced in research and analysis, this report contributes to the gap in research and literature of flooding risk analysis and management for Greater Melbourne.
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation
Meaning
DEM
Digital Elevation Model
BOM
Bureau of Meteorology
GIS
Geographic Information System
LGA
Local Government Area
VICSES
Victorian State Emergency Services
SA2
Statistical Area 2
FHI
Flooding Hazard Index
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