Flood risk metrics

Metric aspiration
Increase in the investment in preparing for and preventing the detrimental impacts of flooding on our communities.

Metrics

• M1a: Annual investment (AUD$) in flood risk management, by source agency.
• M1b: Percentage of M1a which was allocated following an event.

Metric 1 captures the funding approved for flood risk management activities across the state. This metric is informed by QRA administered grant and funding programs (listed in Table 2) and only includes investment in FRM projects and activities that aim to prevent and/or prepare for flooding. It also differentiates this investment from that targeted at response and recovery.

Metric aspiration
Land use planning decisions consider natural hazards and mitigate risks as far as practicable to ensure long-term sustainability of our communities

Metrics

• M2a: Number of councils with SPP2017 compliant local planning scheme
• M2b: Area of residential zoned land within the QFAO 1% AEP extent

This metric captures the number of councils with a local planning scheme which is considered consistent with the risk-based planning principles outlined in the State Planning Policy 2017 (SPP). The SPP defines matters of state interest in land-use planning and development, of which Natural Hazards Risk and Resilience is one. Guidance to support the implementation of the SPP discusses the use of a risk-based assessment considering both current and future climate conditions and future urban growth plans. 

Metric 2b captures the percentage of residential-zoned land within the 1% flood extent, which is defined by the existing state-wide Queensland Floodplain Assessment Overlay (QFAO). Where QFAO data does not exist (most notably in South East Queensland), Councils were asked to provide the analysis using their 1% AEP flood extent. Some councils were unable to provide such information, resulting in the data being incomplete, mostly for remote and rural areas. 
 

Metric aspiration
Flood risk is understood for current and future conditions

Metrics

• M3a: 
  • LGAs consists of no level 3 flood studies
  • LGAs  that have some level 3 flood studies with some gaps
  • LGAs with Full coverage of level 3 flood studies
• M3b: Value (AUD$) of investment in flood studies that year

This metrics seeks to capture the percentage area of habitable floodplains within a Local Government Area (LGA) covered by contemporary flood studies. Habitable floodplain is defined as populated places of an urban settlement (town or city) and the population indicated by ABS Census 2011 figures. A contemporary flood study utilises 2-dimensional hydrodynamic flood modelling software with a version of that software no older than five years, along with hydrological inputs that were generated using the latest ARR2019 guidelines. For this metrics, a Level 3 flood study is considered to be a contemporary flood study.

QRA currently has limited access to local flood study data, as such, reporting will be limited to the available data. Ideally future reports will expand to cover the full extent of flood studies undertaken in Queensland, as more data is shared with the state government (in accordance with the expectations articulated in the QFRMF).

Metric aspiration
Flood information is publicly available and accessible

Metrics

• M4a: Number of councils providing GIS and PDF outputs of flood studies on their website
• M4b: Number of councils with property level information portals
• M4c: Number of councils with disaster dashboards

This metric captures the number of councils that provide key flood awareness information on their public websites. Under the QFRMF, responsibility for flood risk management and flood awareness information generally rests with local governments, as they are the major service provider to communities and are responsible for managing local development.

Flood awareness information for this metric is sourced through desktop research of council’s websites and subsequent council engagement. The metric focuses on the provision of the flood studies, property level information portals, and disaster dashboards.

Metric aspiration
Queensland has a best practice network to prepare for and respond to flooding

Metrics

• M5a: Total number of river and rain assets for the primary purpose of flood warning
• M5b: Percentage of M5a which are automatic gauges
• M5c: Number of councils utilising a flood intelligence system
• M5d: Number of gauges that underwent a change in flood class levels under BoM’s annual review
• M5e: Total number of new assets (signs, cameras, gauges) installed that year through grant funding
• M5f: Total number of creek assets for flood warning purposes for under 6 hours

This metric captures improvements made to Queensland’s flood warning infrastructure network. In Queensland, flood warning infrastructure assets are owned and operated by more than 60 entities including state and local government, the private sector, and the Bureau of Meteorology.

For Metrics 5a, b, and d, flood warning infrastructure is sourced from the Bureau of  Meteorology’s Service Level Specification (SLS) for Flood Forecasting and Warning Services for Queensland. Gaps in the data for Metrics 5f is due to not a having centralised database for non-SLS assets, in particular to the application of alternative assets for under 6 hr warning.