Technical Expert, Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry
Client
Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry
Expert technical advice on 2011 Queensland Floods
Background
In the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck Queensland in January 2011, affecting over two-thirds of the state, a Commission of Inquiry was formed. The Commission was charged with undertaking an independent and thorough examination of the chain of events leading to the floods, all aspects of the response and the subsequent aftermath of the 2010/2011 flood events.
Solution
WMAwater was appointed as the technical expert advising the Commission, and submitted several reports, including:
- The role of Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams in flood mitigation, and their operation during the January 2011 Brisbane River flood;
- A review of hydraulic modelling undertaken on the Brisbane River, Lockyer Creek, and the Bremer River; and
- A review and analysis of Flood Frequency at Ipswich and Brisbane.
In order to investigate the dam operations we ran a number of flood model scenarios through a hydraulic model of the river.
Outcomes
The floods were a tragic reminder that flood risk can never be entirely eliminated, and of the importance of implementing effective floodplain risk management frameworks that cover flood mitigation infrastructure, development planning and flood response strategies.