Burnett River Flood Information
In January 2013, ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald produced extreme rainfall and flooding across Queensland, and damaging winds including mini-tornados, with some of the most severe impacts centred on the Bundaberg Region. Bundaberg City experienced its largest flood in recorded history with the Burnett River peaking at 3pm on 29 January 2013 at 9.53 metres (Bundaberg City gauge). North Bundaberg and other low-lying areas of the city were affected, along with numerous coastal and rural communities along the Burnett River, Kolan River, Baffle Creek and other creek and river systems across the region.
The height of the flood on a property is dependent on its location. The topography (contours) of the Burnett River catchment is varied and so too is the flood level. The Burnett River has a flood gradient which varies on the scale of the flood. Effectively this means that the Burnett River slopes towards the coast and outlets to the Pacific Ocean, so the further up the river you are the higher the flood level. An example of this is a property on Queen Street, Bundaberg North with a flood height of 9.2 metres AHD, while a property on Cedars Road, South Bingera has a flood height of 27.5m AHD. (AHD stands for Australian Height Datum and is a measure of height above mean sea level.) Flood heights on properties can be identified by utilising Council's flood inundation mapping, flood gauge tool or by generating a Flood Planning Control Property Report on Council's interactive mapping website.
With the assistance of a Community Reference Group, Council developed an Action Plan for the Burnett River Floodplain.
More information on the Burnett River Floodplain Action Plan flood and inundation mapping developed as part of the Burnett River Flood Study can be found here
Flood Hazard Area Resolution
Council at its meeting held 12 December 2017 adopted flood hazard areas for the purposes of section 13 of the Building Regulation 2006. The flood hazard area resolution took effect from Friday, 20 December 2017.
The flood hazard areas designated by Council are shown in the mapping included in Council’s ‘Natural Hazard Evaluation Report – Flood’ and are utilised as flood hazard overlay mapping in Council’s interactive mapping system.
The designated flood hazard areas include areas that Council has flood study/ modelled data available, as shown in the table below. For these areas, Council has adopted defined flood levels (DFLs), maximum flow velocities and inactive or backwater areas (where this data is available) derived from these flood studies, for the nominated flood event.
For areas that Council does not currently have flood study/ modelled data, Council has used the State Government's Interim floodplain assessment mapping (State Planning Policy mapping, previously released by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority). While there is no DFL or flow velocity data for these areas, the Planning Scheme includes criteria for self-assessable and assessable development.
Information regarding the Council's flood hazard area resolution, and associated building standards can be found within the below links -
Should you have any questions about the resolution please contact Council's Development Group on 1300 883 699 or email duty_planner@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.
Free Flood Planning Control Property Report
Council is now offering a Free Flood Planning Control Property Report to assist people who require details about flood levels on properties within the Bundaberg Regional Council Area. The Flood Planning Control Property Report provides flood water levels for the range of flood events that make up Council's Flood Hazard Area. The report will also show the existing floor height of buildings where Council has this data available. Finally the report will indicate the Minimum Habitable Floor Level for dwellings. A sample copy of a Flood Planning Control Property Report can be viewed here.
The Flood Planning Control Property Report is available free of charge from Council's interactive mapping website. The guideline to generate the report is available here.
This report is primarily for development assessment and does not show the full range of flooding that may occur on a property. The report will only indicate flooding within Council's Flood Hazard Area (i.e. for the adopted events listed in the table below). Council has limited flood data in rural and remote areas, however as new modelling results become available this information will be added to the Flood Planning Control Property Report. Residents are reminded that more serve, but less likely, flood events can potentially occur on their property. Council's Disaster Management website and Burnett River Flood Gauge Mapping System provide more information about other potential risks to properties.
For further information about the Flood Planning Control Property Report, please contact Council's
Development Group on 1300 883 699 or email duty_planner@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.
User Guides
To aid in the interpretation and implementation of these provisions Council has developed a user guide to assist residents and business owners with the repairing and rebuilding process as a result of the 2013 flood event. User Guides on the following are available for information purposes. Should you need any additional information, please contact Council's Development Group on 1300 883 699 or email duty_planner@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.
User Guide #4 Rev 2 - Improving Resilience to Flood Induced Scour for Dwellings constructed within a Flood Hazard Area
