Following the devastating floods and tornadoes that battered the region in 2013, Bundaberg Regional Council developed a flood action plan in collaboration with the community. 

Now, the Burnett River Floodplain Action Plan, which has enhanced flood resilience across the region, has received a Highly Commended Resilient Australia Government Award at at the Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards 2016.

The award was presented to Council’s CEO Peter Byrne, GM Infrastructure and Planning Andrew Fulton and Manager Design Dwayne Honor, by Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Member for Bundaberg Leanne Donaldson.

Acting Mayor Bill Trevor says the plan sought the community response as to what it believed would make the region safer in the event of future floods, then integrated this information with rigorous scientific, econometric and engineering analysis.

“The community’s engagement was a major part of this project with our residents contributing 328 submissions and a further 300 people personally participating at community information sessions across six locations,' Trevor says. 

“A tremendous amount of valuable feedback was generated through this engagement and coupled with the recommendations of an independent community reference group, the council was able to formulate the Action Plan." 

Outcomes from the project include reduced susceptibility to flooding, the construction of a levee and upgraded evacuation routes.

Trevor says these provided added protection to property, as well as being key infrastructure in the preservation of life in future flood events.

“River and rain gauges were improved to provide earlier warning of flooding and council staff were largely responsible for developing the innovative Burnett River Flood Gauge Mapping System, which has enabled citizens and disaster managers alike to access top-quality flood mapping for individual properties based on upstream flood gauge levels," Trevor continues. 

Trevor says everyone across the council lis delighted that the community’s understanding and acceptance of risks associated with flood has increased.