Study Released 3 Months Ago Warned Oz Cities To Move Beyond Planning For Just 100-Year Floods

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QUEENSLAND Government scientific advice just three months ago that higher flood levels would occur from heavier than usual torrential downpours has proved almost prophetic.

The Government's study advised that because of climate change an increase in rainfall intensity was likely of about 5 per cent per degree of global warming and this should be incorporated into planning schemes. Released by Climate Change Minister Kate Jones in November, the study which was conducted with the Local Government Association of Queensland, encouraged councils to move away from 1 in 100 year flood planning.

The incidence of housing developments being approved in flood prone areas, flood-hit mines dispersing contaminated waters and high-set Queenslanders being built-in underneath has been a source of constant complaint since flooding started last year. Ms Jones said yesterday local governments had to plan for increased rainfall intensity and expand the area of land considered as flood prone as a result of the predictions.

The Inland Flooding Study also would be used as the backdrop to the current statutory review of State Planning Policy 1/03 which was about mitigating the adverse impacts of flood, bushfire and landslide. The report provided a benchmark to assess increased flood risks and give examples of how local governments could better deal with that risk.

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http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/govt-report-warned-of-flood-risk/story-fn6ck45n-1225991229844