Flood and Inundation Policy Position Paper

Recent flooding and coastal inundation events have highlighted the importance for appropriate and timely state and local planning guidelines and controls to be in place to minimise the flooding and inundation risk in these areas.

 This is particularly the case as Gippsland continues to grow, and the demand for coastal and riverine developments is increasing. Unfortunately, recent flood events have shown that the current planning framework is not meeting the needs of communities.

 One Gippsland has identified:

1.     The current mapping of flood and inundation is out of date;

2.     The current process for assessing applications happens at a localised level but flooding and inundation occurs across local government and catchment authority boundaries – creating an opportunity for an inconsistent approach to assessments;

3.     The cost to update and implement the most recent science into planning schemes is a lengthy and expensive process which could be better addressed through a statewide approach to assessing flood and inundation risk.

 Proactive action by the State Government to address these issues will minimise future risk to the community and ensure that development does not take place on land that is subject to rising sea levels, flood and inundation now and into the future.

 One Gippsland is calling on the State Government to address planning issues and minimise flood risk through an interim state-wide flood and inundation overlay, similar to the overlay that has been put in place to manage bushfire risk.

Read our Policy Position