Strategies & Reports
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Victoria Flood Management Strategy
The Victoria Flood Management Strategy was prepared for the Government by the State Flood Policy Committee and was launched in July 1998.The purpose of this strategy is to:
- Enable effective flood management for the subsequent ten years, by providing a consistent state-wide framework for the management of flood related issues by the responsible authorities, agencies and groups.
- Set out objectives, provide a state-wide policy framework for best principles and guidelines, establish priorities for state-wide action, and identify roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders.
- Provide the state-wide context for the development of regional floodplain management strategies, floodplain management plans and specific guidelines.
- Provide a process of continual assessment and improvement for flood management in Victoria, through the implementation and periodic revision of the strategy.
The strategy addresses flooding issues largely in the context of regional Victoria where Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) have been established. However, issues relevant to the Port Phillip and Westernport area are incorporated as appropriate.
At the local level, the strategy has been implemented through a range of service providers, such as Catchment Management Authorities, Rural Water Authorities, Local Government and DSE regions.
The Strategy is currently being reviewed.
Regional Floodplain Management Strategies
The purpose of Regional Floodplain Management Strategies is to enable each Catchment Management Authority to carry out its floodplain management role effectively. It is the primary document which provides a 10 year planning horizon for the CMA's floodplain management activities. It details roles, responsibilities, cost sharing arrangements and key programs for floodplain management stakeholders within the CMA region.
A regional floodplain management strategy sets out tasks, priorities, timeframes, costs and lead agency/support agency roles for the following six key programs:
- Asset Management
- Information Management
- Local Flood Studies and FPM Plans
- Flood Warning and Emergency Planning
- Statutory Land Use Planning
- Education, Training, Community Awareness.
For further information on the Regional Floodplain Management Strategies, contact the appropriate Catchment Management Authority.
Rapid Appraisal Method for Estimating Flood Damage
A Rapid Appraisal Method (RAM) has been prepared to enable the rapid determination of potential flood damages. It can be used for estimating flood damages within a particular area or region, ranking of proposed flood studies and determining the benefits and costs of proposed floodplain management works and measures.
Rapid Appraisal Method for Floodplain Management (PDF~990kB)
Levee Design Construction and Maintenance
Levees have proliferated on Victorian floodplains. Many have been constructed by governments and agencies, but many more have been built by individuals privately. The effects of the construction of levees on floodplains are generally poorly understood by individuals, who are only concerned about protecting their livelihoods and not about the effects the levees may have on others. Failures of levees occur regularly.
Technical guidelines entitled Levee Design, Construction and Maintenance have been produced to assist managers, designers and constructors of levees. They provide general guidance on levees and are not intended to provide solutions to all problems arising in levee construction and maintenance. They should not be used as a substitute for sound engineering consideration of all relevant issues.
Levee Design Construction & Maintenance (PDF~2.0MB)
Economic Benefits of Land Use Planning in Flood Management
Planning measures are aimed at reducing potential damages associated with new developments on the floodplain. These measures generally involve land use controls, such as zoning, and design characteristics for buildings, such as minimum floor heights and water proofing.
Planning measures can reduce the flood risk by excluding some activities from the floodplain and by providing conditions under which particular developments would be permitted at locations with known flood risk. Planning measures are generally not aimed at existing buildings and therefore do not reduce the risks to households or businesses already located on the floodplain. It has been shown that land use planning is one of the most cost-effective means of reducing the growth of future flood damage in Australia.
A project called Economic Benefits of Land Use Planning in Flood Management was undertaken by URS Pty Ltd, in July 2002. Its purpose was to assess the economic benefits and costs of land use planning in flood affected areas in regional Victoria. The specific project objectives were to develop a robust methodology for assessment of land use planning, application of this methodology to case study areas in the region of the North Central CMA; and for the assessment of the benefits and costs of introducing improved flood controls into municipal planning schemes.
The report concluded that planning measures are economically effective for all types of developments in floodway areas. It also concluded that planning measures are also economically effective for residential development in the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, however, they may not be economically effective for commercial and industrial buildings.
Economic Benefits of Land Use Planning in Flood Management (PDF~285kB)