Another boost for region’s flood resilience

Sunshine Coast residents can now access the most accurate flood mapping and information available online, after updates were endorsed at last Thursday’s (September 21) Ordinary Meeting of Council.    

The changes to Council’s public flood mapping products include new mapping of the Caloundra South Priority Development Area and new mapping showing locations estimated to have been affected by the February 2022 flood event.

Other changes include new drainage modelling for Maroochydore South, new overland flow modelling for Eumundi and within small coastal creeks.

Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said the updates endorsed by Council (on 21 September) were minor revisions of Council’s major public flood mapping and information products which were released in August 2021.   

“Council has a range of flood mapping products to inform emergency preparedness and land use planning and build our region’s resilience,” Cr Suarez said.  

“Our aim is to make sure the community has access to the most up to date information and ensure building and development works consider new data as it becomes available.

“Having access to up-to-date flood mapping and information enables our community to reduce the impact of floods by better understanding flood risk.

“The updated flood mapping and information doesn’t create more risk on a property, it provides more detailed information so property owners can better understand the existing risk.”

Changes to the public flood mapping products endorsed at Council’s Ordinary Meeting yesterday:

• Mapping for the developed areas of the Caloundra South Priority Development Area.
• A map showing locations estimated to have been affected by the February 2022 flooding event.
• A detailed local area drainage model for the Maroochydore South area representing the catchment on the northern and western facing slopes of the Buderim escarpment, extending to Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.   
• An overland flow path model for Eumundi based on contemporary hydraulic modelling.
• Information from individual Master Drainage Planning Studies and Overland Flow Path modelling compiled into a single map for easier discovery of stormwater flow paths.
• Revised storm tide levels in Stumers Creek, Currimundi Creek, Coondibah Creek and Tooway Creek.
• Inclusion of explanatory information describing the mapping layers, accessible using the information icon within the mapping system.

To find out more, check out the frequently asked questions, fact sheets and how-to videos available online via sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/floodmapping.