The Queensland Government has released a flood study it describes as “the most comprehensive study of its kind to be undertaken in Australia” in an effort to protect communities from future flooding events.

The study, which supports a key recommendation of the 2011 Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, used 170 years of rainfall data and 11,340 scenarios that influence flooding to help local governments across the Brisbane River catchment to help predict flood risk for individual properties.

The data will also inform land use planning in South East Queensland.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said more than 50,000 computer simulations were used when developing the study, which was Australia's first ever whole-of-catchment flood study.

“The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry recommended this study because there is currently no single flood model that councils can use that provided a common and consistent basis for land-use planning, disaster management and building community resilience.

“This study provides a comprehensive analysis of a range of potential flood events, which is a critical first step towards developing a strategy that will set out flood resilience options for the region.”

Brisbane City Council Mayor Graham Quirk said that a coordinated effort was important as the region has a long history of major floods recorded back as far as 1893.

“In the past the way we planned for flooding was divided by local government area but we know that floods have no respect for council boundaries,” Cr Quirk said.

“By focusing on the entire catchment, we are able to bring together councils and stakeholders across the Brisbane River floodplain, using comprehensive and consistent information to improve the safety of our communities.”

Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale said the study was all about working together to understand the potential for flooding across the region.

“This study has been a four year partnership between the Queensland Government, Ipswich City Council, Brisbane City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and Seqwater,” Pisasale said.

“While councils are still the best source of information for detailed, localised flood information, the Brisbane River Catchment Flood Study will support a more coordinated approach to managing floods across all levels of government in the future.”

Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said that the Flood Study was critical for community preparedness.

“While the study will not prevent future flooding, it will work hand in hand with the study we have already commissioned of Lockyer Creek, to ensure communities across the catchment are as prepared and resilient as they can possibly be,” Milligan said.