The Queensland Premier and Reconstruction Minister, Anna Bligh
recently announced a floodplain mapping initiative undertaken by
the Queensland Government, the purpose of which is to assist local
governments in managing development on floodplains.
It has done this through the publication by the Queensland
Reconstruction Authority (QRA) of guidelines and an online
interactive map, which local governments can use in assessing
applications for development in flood affected areas. Is this the
'start of a journey to improve floodplain management throughout
Queensland', or has the State Government missed the tide?
Development decisions involving flood
Whereas the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (QLD)
(SPA) requires local governments to achieve
ecological sustainability by managing the effects of development on
the environment1, the SPA does not expressly require
local governments to address flooding when preparing a planning
scheme or assessing development. The core
