flood of ideas

If extreme weather puts the economy on hold, we don’t have a resilient economy. Every time these events occur the clean up, particularly from the mines is often more damaging, than the extreme weather event. It’s time to design a 21st century economy for Queensland. Now is the opportunity to bring on the public debate about Queensland’s clean economic future and what it looks like.

Really, this is for the Toowoomba and Lockyer valley area: Construction of an emergency mechanism stretching across that creek in Toowoomba at several different points along it – like big fibreglass balloons attached to cables stretched across the creek and as the water level rises to a dangerous level, an emergency siren is activated to alert people to the rising water level. If the source o

If everyone in Brisbane went down to the river and took a bucket of water they would lower the river and stop a flood. (ALSO, DRINK MORE WATER)

To flood proof Queensland… we need to put pipes around the houses. These pipes carry the water to dams which are away from the important cities and towns.

Creek and river esplanades provide a wonderful environment for living in fine weather. Housing has long views across water and vegetation and the river or creek-side walking and cycle paths provide good connectivity through the city. In various locations in SEQ, the esplanades offer potential for fishing, swimming, kayaking and boating. The esplanades can also be highly susceptible to riverine

To flood proof Queensland… we need to build more rivers around buildings. These rivers will be built so that the water flows away from our important places.

More and bigger storm water drains

Houses built on a metal block

Often ferry terminals are placed in “loose spaces”, or just on the edges of building, often on the edge of a space. They usually have poor flows and if there is any connection it is only to foreshore; there is no connection to the space behind the terminals. The terminal could be used as a way to connect Brisbane with the river, create better connectivity, way finding and better flows. The

It’s your choice….. Whether you live on a river, in the city, in a desert or on the beach. It’s your choice. But you can’t choose what the varying elements of those situations will bring. You can’t choose where the wind will blow, when the water will rise or when it will fall and this is what we have to learn to respond to. We need to learn to live with nature. We need to start chan

Stylish, practical and deploy able housing. Modular housing that can be compacted and transported away from an imminent flood. Houses can be deployed again afterwards.

The ‘Stump Jump Flood House’, designed by PHAB Architects, is an experimental housing concept that combines The Queensland House with a floating jetty. It re-imagines the Brisbane City Council Subtropical Cities Competition winning entry, ‘Stump Jump House’, from 2005. Inspired by the tragic events of the 2011 Queensland floods (where televised images showed timber houses torn loose fro

This image shows a 60sqm full brick house on a 300 thick reinforced concrete raft foundation, complete with continuous/attached perimeter wall 150 thick and 750 high. The top of the wall in this case is to the local flood design level but could be constructed to window sill height, approx. to 1.2m above floor level, for the same cost. The level access to the house is through a gate which could

Release flood plains back to river. Move to higher ground

This machine is called a Scraper Sucker. It is a remote controlled vehicle that scrapes up mud from the floor and sucks it into a bag. I thought of this idea because I know it would be horrible to have mud all through the house and it would feel better if it was gone. It runs on batteries so it can go all through the house. It is water proof and it has a propeller also at the back. So if ther

Systems of Cities aims to harness ecology ‘corridor and network’ principles, sustainability and begin to view cities as precincts, showing that living ‘with,’ not ‘on’ an ecological system is resilient and sustainable. By increasing the systems density, linkages and connections points the system increases in resilience and is able to function during and after peak shocks. The design

Empower community members to better prepare and take step in emergency response situation. The state could provide infrastructure support but peoples on time action is vital.

More and affordable flood insurance, particularly for multi unit dwellings. Flood back-flow protection for storm water systems and sewerage systems.

Little platforms with roofs could be built on top of every building with a supply of food. Little safe houses (bombshelters) (without the bomb part)

After 1893, after 1974, and again after 2011, the community was astounded that flood waters reached the levels they did. There were widespread misconceptions that a dam could floodproof a city, and many thought a 1 in 100 year flood was exactly that. Is there an easy way to retain awareness in the community about floods when we need it most: in the dry years before a big flood, not the months i

Buildings that float

Use more water so that if it floods the dams would have more room for the flood water.

Hydraulic lift pad to lift valuables from ground level. Rail, block, and tackle built into roof to lift items manually.

“The Urban Jungle” Go Between Bridge through to Goodwill Bridge The riverside boardwalk has been extended from William Jolly bridge to the Go Between bridge (montage A-A) . Large-scale man made berms are placed in key areas along the journey (montage B-B). As the journey progresses the Berms begin to evolve, becoming more interactive. Towards the end of the journey the occupier begins walk

This site is located along the north side of the Brisbane River between the Go Between Bridge and the Goodwill Bridge. At present the site is used primarily as a pedestrian and cyclist thoroughfare. The proposal intends to change the site over an extended period of about twenty years. The change takes into account major deconstruction of the existing motorway with adapted traffic flows as well as

A barrier should be built around creeks ans rivers to prevent flooding. A pipe vgoes to Africa to stop them having droughts or converts to ocean. Scanners would be used to see if there are leaks or breaks.

Houses on buoyant platforms that are anchored to weights.

The most financially vulnerable have the least capacity to recover from flood. Government subsidized flood resilient affordable housing, and insurance for low socio-economic communities.

“Rather than defend against slow changes by means of man- made changes in the landscape, it is less costly and more sustainable to adapt and integrate human settlement to promote restoration of larger- scaled biodiversity processes,” (Ernston, 2009, pg. 534) Today, we are facing an increasing uncertainty of repeated flooding, more devastating that the recent 2011 floods. This means there n

Deep sea disco

Brisbane City Council said almost one years worth of landfill was picked up during last months clean-up - 291,000 tonnes of rubbish... It would seem that many people were unprepared for the flooding in their neighbourhood or were unable to remove their property in time. The Flood Response Tower is an multi-layered and multi-functional structure, which will better equip neighbourhoods and reside

One of Brisbane River’s most prominent winding bends is on the West End bend (Orleigh Park). Where the river narrows significantly into a hair-pin bend and only tightens moreso on exit. This sharp and narrow bend in the river potentially lies home to signifacnt water velocity measures, as the river rushes into and out of the West End bend. There is an opportunity to use this significant hair-pi

The pylon forest serpentines and wades the wetness of the Northbank reaches of the Brisbane River. Reaching out of the mud it suspends a riparian walk and commuting corridor. Visitors trace out an interpretive journey through the resilient river landscape that is adapting and persevering. This public space provides a large area for recreation and connection between Central Business District str

To flood proof our houses we can change how we build them. We can build our houses using concrete as the base. In this concrete we have a plug. This plug has a sensor and when it feels that water is building up over it, it opens and the water is sucked through. This stops it from flooding.

To flood proof Queensland… each house needs to have a drain. These drains lead to underground tunnels which take the water to the REALLY BIG underground dam away from the city/town. There is a gate that lets water stay or go to water plants or to houses or other towns.

After the 1974 flood some engineers proposed that a rock wall be built in the upstream side of the Brisbane River where Oxley Creek enters the Brisbane River. Because of the direction that Oxley Creek enters the Brisbane River , unlike Breakfast Creek or Norman Creek , when the Brisbane River floods the water flows into Oxley Creek and not only fills it up but stops the flood waters from the Oxle

The 2011 January floods have passed and our city may have been lucky in avoiding severe damage. With the future floods being predicted to be twice as devastating, are we confident that our landscapes will guard us from the next big flood? The New Farm Heart project focuses on the area of New Farm and what steps can be taken in order to make the area resilient to floods. This proposal aims to ma

Northbanks Verge aims to facilitate the function of a busy transport corridor with the potential for an inner city exhibit of the river that shapes us. A manipulation of the grade and the offering of alternate pathways proposes an increased network of paths and spaces decreasing the effects of inundation by flooding. Varying the size of spaces and levels along the river, flooding would no longer c

Wivenhoe Dam stands as Brisbane’s main defence against flooding. During the 2011 Queensland floods water from the Wivenhoe catchment area spilt into the Brisbane Valley flooding the city and surrounding areas. The water had nowhere else to go. A series of dedicated catchment basins combined with levees could have slowed the flow of water into the city and protected against the rising waters.

With good scientific information and modelling we can create greenspace corridors down our South East Queensland waterways for multiple uses including flash flood /high flow attenuation, water quality improvement, nature conservation and openspace recreation.

Ministerial Responsibility

Everybody drink more water (8 glasses a day)

Life is more valuable than any other valuable item. Remember that the idea is to be resilient, have an action plan, learn more about your area, find a safe place that you can go as close to home as possible. Educate yourself about First Aid, Learn to swim, discuss your ideas about emergencies with family and friends.Youll feel a lot more comfortable when you are informed.PS. Always wear clean undi

This Strategy is considering the next 100 years and aims to: -Accept the condition of the fluid terrain rationale by lowering resistance to it. -Increase the resilience of the different layers of infrastructure. -Explore the opportunities that could exist within the fluid terrain and on its periphery. This page is a condensed version of a strategic plan that is being used to generate a mas

Knock down all the blocks of units and rebuild Queenslander houses ;-)

Additional urban forestry and BIIPV (Building Infrastructure Integrated Photo Voltaics). Building code and urban planning relevant upgrades/implementation (mandatory when necessary)

Dredge Wivenhoe to maintain maximum capacity

Imagine you are walking along a timber deck, shaded by the deep green foliage of ferns and palms, smelling the clean air and listening to birds sing while they perch amongst sub tropical flowers. This abstract master plan proposes a city where such an environment exists. As infrastructure ages or is destroyed, it is substituted with better flood adapted design. River edges, currently rigid and imp

Raise houses, turn flood plains into parks. Dont let people build in flood areas.

Design a flood free route for an additional two lanes of the Bruce Hwy. In this way the two new lanes will provide for a dual carriageway over the total length of the current two lane sections. This will allow for two lanes each way during normal operation. During major flood events the newly constructed two lanes will allow for flood free movement of traffic but only one lane each way. This propo

A mark to remind us all.. Local street art on power poles that indicates flood levels would remind the community of the flood risk in an easily understood manner.

Water regeneration, permeable pavements that allow water to enter the groundwater and slowly enter the river system. Concrete pushes water directly into the water ways.

Introduce a flood tax for South East Queensland.

The Handful of Treasures concept aims to defend Brisbane’s man-made treasures contained within the Cultural precinct while enhancing the natural treasures of Kurilpa Point and surrounds by allowing flood waters to enter the land thereby gradually increasing the resilience of the area.The design embraces the processes of natural geological deposition and erosion of the Kurilpa Point river bend ar

Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley areas but could be applied to Brisbane or Australia-wide: Modify the phone numbering system to include the post-code of the area affected. When emergency messages need to be sent to specific endangered areas then ring the phones to those post-codes or map-reference numbers. Have heard that in South Australia they use map reference points that are noted on fence pos

Against the backdrop of the urban Brisbane City skyline and the iconic Story Bridge lies the historic Howard Smith Wharves parkland. This significant site within Brisbane was inundated by the recent January floods, showing the public that there needs to be something done to improve the resilience of the ‘fluid terrain’ (Mathur and Da Cunha, 2006), the space that cannot clearly be defined as ei

Constantly moving and changing, rising and falling, the Brisbane River is hugely integral to the layout and design of Brisbane City. It is important that we respect the changing tides and river heights within our city on all riverside and flood prone areas. As a defining piece of central Brisbane, South Bank must be treated in this fashion and must be developed in such a way which it can co-exist

Try to clean the pipes from rubbish, because small things could make a disaster!

Build out of flood plains - less density further back.

Water management needs to involve liaison between bureau of meteorology and dam managers directly. We had an unnecessary flood because parliamentarians decided we needed to maintain the dams at 100% capacity if at all possible. Result: over 20 deaths, untold misery through insurance backpeddling and losses of livelihoods, homes and dreams. It was well known that the summer would be a wet one. Ca

More dams.

1. All future housing (living areas) near river subject to flooding to be above the flood line and change height regulation. 2. Place non-return valves in storm water drains going into the river at flood prone areas. 3. Institute a general state flood-insurance scheme.

Save your volunteers energy for some other effort: http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/articles/machines.htm

In early 2011 Brisbane was overwhelmed by flood waters to an extent not experienced since the floods in 1974. The devastating effects of the flood have raised many questions about the way we live and how we can prepare for increasingly frequent floods and storms. Could our infrastructure be re-imagined in a way that would not only help us to flood proof our city, but integrate our waterways

We can’t stop Queensland flooding because we can’t control the rain. Also, it floods because there are things such as buildings and so on which get in the way. So,we need to grow more paperbark trees because these trees soak up lots of water. We also need to build our houses and buildings underground so that when it floods, they don’t get damaged. These underground houses will need a very lo

Build things on hills.

This is a house surrounded by as floaty (made of indestructible material) that inflates when you hit a button. This floaty goes around the perimeter of the house. When the water comes, instead of the water flooding everything, the house will float on top of the water and save everything in it!! To stop the house floating away, ropes will be attached from the floaty to the ground. It also has a m

The Flood Adaptive Queenslander addresses the issue of flood protection with the question, “Why demolish and rebuild, when you can adapt?”. Our proposal suggests building an extension onto and above existing Queenslanders. Normally this space would provide additional living area for the occupants, but during a flood would provide a higher habitable area which could be used for emergency accomm

I lived across the park from Fairfield Gardens, the lowest house in Sydney Street, Fairfield, Brisbane. I came home early on Jan 11, and my wife and neighbour and I packed and moved as many things as possible. Firstly, upstairs, and then up the hill when I realized that upstairs would not be enough. BUT, I could not get reliable information about what high enough meant. Please consider painting tw

House with waterproof material on giant floaty (which is inflatable)

What is it? The Help Seeker is a boat that helps people in flood waters. It is operated by a well-trained person. It has rescue, clean up and high technology features. What does it do? The Help Seeker rescues people in the flood waters. To help it find people it uses a radar. It has amphibious features such as the slow moving wheels that enables it to take people to dry land. Screen techno

Design for flood-prone houses with examples built in NSW (with or without refuge). Design accommodates impact of still water or a moving floodway, is resistant to lateral forces and uses flood- compatible materials.

The location of this design is along the eastern side of Kangaroo Point. The key idea was to create openings along the edge of the river to allow floodwater to flow in and out without getting trapped behind barriers or in the low points of the site (such as the top zoomed in plan). The second part of the design was the creation of green space (grassed parks and forest riparian areas) along the riv

Flood Mark is a component of my masterplan for Kangaroo Point. The idea stems from the need to maintain awareness of Brisbane’s flood culture and to build resilience not only into the landscape but also into the urban community. Infrequent flooding, passing time and shifting populations can result in a community that lacks the knowledge and experience required to successfully adapt and respond t

The land has a memory; dormant creek beds are revived as the ground reaches saturation point and stormwater runoff begins its journey to the river. An apartment or office block is not an obstacle for nature. The consequences of building in flood plains, overland flow paths and natural creek beds have not been remembered. A river city which respects the impact of flood events and plans for the r

If building move onto higher ground

House Layout and Description About 60% of the ground floor area is open but at the same time secure. The screening, both metal and timber, allows for potential flood water to pass through with relative ease. The laundry cabinetry and washing machine are constructed on a pulley system and platform that allows it to be elevated and secured when flood levels rise. Positioning of plumbing caters fo

During the devastating 2011 Brisbane flood, many watched their homes slowly disappear under the rising floodwaters, unable to do anything. This postcard looks at the idea of the “IKEA” house where occupants are able to dismantle all or part of their home into easily transportable components. In areas prone to flooding, we could look towards more temporary, transportable buildings that can be r

Designed as a dynamic terrain, the site accepts the periodicflooding of the Brisbane River (and stormwater inundationof the low-lying streets) as a normal situation in the life of ariver city, and oers a site that evolves and shapes itself tothese dynamics. At peak flood level (5.4m in this region),areas such as Kurilpa Point, GOMA (see section below) andState Library riverfront and QPAC river

On the 12 October 1893, during the Queensland Parliament’s Legislative Assembly Debate, Andrew Lang Petrie, Member for Toombul, asked the Premier if the government intended to offer premiums to engineers and others for the best plans for diverting the flood waters of the Brisbane, Burnett and Mary Rivers in order to prevent repetition of flood disasters and to use the water usefully. Then Pr

Proposed is an idea which can be easily and quickly integrated into a site affected by natural disaster. The pods consist of a hexagonal sturdy base with soft non slip foam on top, three interchangeable hexagonal core pieces sitting on a generator and a hexagonal umbrella top. The material for the core is plaspanel plastic and the material for the roof is solar infused tyvek (both clean easily,

FLUID terrain is more than a physical concept; it also applies to the complex levels of social and economic. The 2011 floods illustrated the RESILIENCE of Brisbane to extreme events and its fluidity to change. This concept proposes that there can be more done on a social level in making Brisbane more resilient to day to day and extreme natural movements of the River. The core idea is that th

Rivers flood and urban rivers behave differently to natural waterways. One of the most significant flood causes in most river systems is the reduction in channel capacity caused by development and management. This slows down the release of urban water, exaccerbating the impact of the rural catchment. The Brisbane River recently flooded upstream to at least AHD 7.5 but in Newstead it was AHD 2.5 (a

Build more dams that can hold much more water.

Free up flood data/information. Get over the legal fears/issues.

Putting balloons on houses to fly above the water.

Build Dwellings in non flood plain areas. Need warnings sooner - not a flood-proofing strategy but more about safety.

Reclaim low lying properties in Yeronga to establish a city farm on the south-side of the city. (see Northey St. after 74)

Move the CBD away from the river!

Be better prepared for the next one.

Dont build in flood able areas. Build high. High rise to allow for floodable floods. De-centralize.

NEW.FARM is a hypothetical scheme for Brisbane’s river suburbs that retrofits a response to the landscape into the existing city fabric. It is a rearrangement more than a re-design, building on the opportunities presented by the adaptable ‘Queenslander’ house type. NEW.FARM makes a distinction between ‘flood plain’ and ‘high ground,’ and presents a strategy for each. Dwellings on

Location: Lower River Terrace - Kangaroo Point Strategy Equilibrium is a concept that celebrates and embraces the dynamic nature of a fluid terrain. It responds to the landscape as an ephemeral, ever changing entity that is constantly shifting and evolving through time. Equilibrium is a strategy that allows natures balance to co-exist along side human flows and built infrastructure. It heig

*House on raised surface to prevent water near the house *Two water tanks-one on the property and one that can be underground *sloped roof so waer can run off *Drainage pipes under surface of the grass which collect water and lead it into the undergraound water tank *Raised house to prevent water entering house

Another low smaller dam below Wivenhoe is needed. LEGISLATED SO THAT IT IS ONLY FOR FLOOD MITIGATION, not quietly left full for population growth or drought. This would be cost effective, could be used for grazing at all other times. High enough to hold flood releases only, and emptied in a contolled manner after flooding possibilities ease. Like they have in the deserts of Arizona! Could be an ea

Need better warning systems Employ competent dam engineers

Have an annual flood festival that rotates through flood effected areas that remind people about floods. It would continually involve the community in flood-of-ideas like scenarios.

Overall the device causes Austrlia to defy gravity and tips all the water out of Australia.All the islands around Australia will have force fields that prevent unwamted mounts of rain setting in and flooding the islands , including Tasmania. THere will be jet turbines the size of 20000 elephants . The jet turbines will flip Australia over and tip all the unwantedwater out into the sea.

On every flood prone development a visual indicator of a flood peak of XXX metres will cause damage. Damage should be specified as water entering the occupied area of the house. The indicator should read the same as the flood reports. Similarly it should be noted on any documents relating to the property. This should include sale and lease documents.  It will give time to save contents and inform

Have a huge dome for flash floods

Nature in its simplest form uses the sun to create a cycle. When rain falls on an undeveloped site, it is softened by the trees, some is absorbed by leaves and then the rain falls on the undergrowth where the flow of water is slowed by the plants. Water uses the plant to infiltrate into the earth with a small percentage running off to creeks then rivers. The plant then transpires water back into

Build an ark that will hold 2 of every animal until the great flood subsides.

Better planning and development controls - legally enforced Dont permit development on flood plains.

- Public fund for emergency-relief like they do in New Zealand for earthquakes. (as a part of tax). - Dont blame it all on the dam engineers. - Educate insurance companies on flooding relief.

Be Prepared. Nothing will stop the flooding but being educated on the best response will reduce the impact. - Have the manual mobile charger idea - Store precious possessions in water tight containers - Have torches/batteries/water on stand by

It is proposed that new buildings located in flood prone areas are to be constructed as light weight structures able to float as water rises beneath them. The building will be placed on telescopic columns able to withstand hydraulic pressure to displacement and also will have tanks spread over the under croft. The tanks could store rain water and be emptied to retain air becoming a floatatio

Town planning and always remember past history.

The Hulking Reminder is not intended to prevent flooding or directly protect property from flood damage. Instead a large scuttled ship will act as a dominant visual reminder of the Rivers presence and its history as a maritime transport corridor. The intention is that the ship will help encourage the city to not forget and be less complacent about the destructive behavior of such a large Australia

This picture is of an inflatable house with the two gods of the water (Poseidon in the bottom left hand door), one a Demi god (Percy in the top right hand corner) and a Saytar (Grover in the right hand window). These people are in the house because they can protect and control the floods saving everyone from dying. The inflatable house idea was because it won’t get blown to bits and it will floa

Hover Houses are hovering platforms that can change levels according to the height of the flood. It also has waterproof escalators creating a pathway connecting to the ground. This invention raises the houses above the water level to prevent destruction of houses, hotels, shop and any other structures that are not flood proof. Can support any weight or size and can be adapted in any city or climat

Recognise and put value into these services. In most cases they represent the most cost effective solutions. An obvious first idea is to require urban water utilities to fund landholders to manage their properties so that downstream water quality is improved. Saves on treatment costs and saves on marine pollution.

This design aims to create parkland with the capabilities to sustain submersion and the immense force of floodwaters. The specific geography, riverbank enclosed by spectacular steep cliffs of Brisbane Tuff is the instigator of this design. Priority is given to retaining the cliff vistas as these dramatic views have major historical and social importance to Brisbane. The surrounding areas have h

F=Flood=Flexible Fixed+Flood=Failure

Milton, Rosalie and Auchenflower were three of the most photographed suburbs that went under in the Brisbane flood. Floodwaters that inundated the shops, school and hundreds of residences, came up from the river along the floodpath of the former Western Creek. This much abused watercourse connects to the Brisbane River through a small culvert under the John Oxley Centre, beside the ill-fated Drif

Clear out creeks and minor waterways on a regular basis so that bull rushes and debris dont block the flow of water. Back logged water will flow sideways and inundate properties beside these creeks causing great damage. The bull rushes do trap the debris however they matt together and encompass the debris which is then a home for vermin and it also forms a dam which causes the water to back up w

Steps that float

Less Water More T-Rex

Put houses on hills and wear life jackets to keep you safe.

Build more houses on hills

Having observed how our river edge infrastructure adapted, or otherwise, to the flood surge it is obvious that more adaptive systems are required. Our case in point is the popular floating boardwalk linking New Farm to the City – half of which became the subject of a dramatic tug boat escort beneath the gateway bridges. This proposition explores a way to replace this structure with a walkw

Generate hydro electricity to power pumps on high ground.

The Brisbane River is an ever evolving entity and should be treated as such. This site is a hub of culture, history and human activity among many other things and any minor disturbance can have drastic effects. This proposal aims to not only improve resilience but the connectivity, coherence and use of the site as well engaging the public with the river which shall promote appreciation and respect

Everyone learn swimming lessons with Superman and Batman.

People living in a fish bowl

The URBAN WETLAND is designed as a post flood mitigation device to reduce sediment loads on Moreton Bay and lower catchment areas. This will be achieved through the integration of urban detention and bio-retention basins along the length of the Brisbane River. In recent flood events fluvial discharge of sediments and pollutants were deposited on land only to be subsequently washed back into the Br

To flood proof Queensland… we need to build a mote around the houses/cities with underground pipes that carries the water to dams and other parts of the country that need water.

A better warning system for city - e.g. warn of possible flooding. More sand baggers. Better mapping of flood prone areas.

There is technology currently available in Australia to raise brick and stone buildings including slab on grade construction. Similar to wood frame ‘Queenslanders’ these buildings can be raised above the flood level with the ground storey reserved for car parking or other ‘flood tolerant’ uses. Raising of buildings has the added benefit of being applicable to existing houses or commercial

Give buildings a watertight mode.Selected doors would be replaced with equivalents that included a one-time-use inflatable watertight seal could be deployed around them using compressed air. To deal with windows and drains each building would keep in storage an insert with a similar function (ie. a one time use plug that was enabled using compressed air).When a flood became inevitable building own

Houses become shells that allow water to pass through using resistant materials allowing one to rinse the shell once the flood has evaporated.

Mark a power pole or have a permanent marker in each street that was flooded, showing the level of the water and the year that it flooded, to make people aware that the street they may be buying or renting in was flooded. This will also inform residents of whether or not they will be eligible for flood insurance prior to buying or renting a property.

To have more drains and grass that soaks a lot more.

Live on hills! Queenslanders

Our city is built on a floodplain so any idea to flood proof can realistically only ever remain an idea

Adaptable, resilient, designs.

Stop damming waterways change building regulations/approvals

Create a place to record, share and remember the floods - provide the opportunity for the community to share their stories and ideas.

To flood proof Queensland… we can put a cover over all the houses. This cover will protect our houses and make sure that the houses underneath don’t flood. The roof will carry the water through pipes to a different spot. The roof will open up in spots to let the rain come in and water our plants and trees and to let sunlight in. There will also be lights under the roof to help the plants grow.

Berm structure in river to slow the flows.

A small plant, repeated many times, can help prevent our soils collapsing.

Set up locations to evacuate furniture/belongings to. We had to drive considerable distance to family members to unload our things. We could have evacuated more if the local school opened the hall as a temporary storage space.

Install a buoyant platform the surrounds the house. During flood events the platform will float exposing a protective membrane which will stop flood water damaging the house. Design and image by Daniel Smith.

For my concept the City Cat Terminals will be used as a way for Brisbane to create a connection with its river. They will be used to create better flows, improve connectivity and to remove the hard edge and create more awareness of the ‘Fluid Terrain.’ BUT DOES THIS CREATE RESILIENCE? Having more of a connection with the adjoining landscape and surrounding space will minimise the exposure of t

Build outside the flood plain Give the land back to the river Build and design houses to allow for basement flooding Position services on high ground

Engineers should communicate with the community to explain why flood levels are approximate.

Everyone has a Grapple to get away from water.

In exploring the recommendation of a ‘regulating reservoir’ at the junction of the Stanley and Brisbane rivers, Colonel John Pennycuick presented two ideas for important issues that would arise from the construction of this dam. The first idea addressed who would control the reservoir. He believed that: “…the absolute control of the regulation be placed in the hands of an individual

My idea is to pick up rubbish from after the floods. There is a truck and it has five rubbish bins at the back and it has two claws to pick up all the rubbish. The driver has controls to control all of the claws. It is called the Rubbish Pickerupper 6000. I had this idea because from the flood a lot of rubbish was swept everywhere and it was a problem for the people. The Rubbish Pickerupper 60

To stop Queensland from flooding… we need to put more holes in the ground. These holes lead to pipes which carry the water away.

Dutch house boats on canals are floating on cement pontoons. Japanese floating airport resists ocean waves.

Brisbane River is the major element which has shaped Brisbane city. All the residential blocks, including houses and units with the river view, have always been the most desirable living places in this beautiful city. But the recent flooding in Brisbane has affected these residential areas and at the moment the main concern for buying a house in Brisbane is the flood level. Here is an idea for de

On the advice of the Bureau of Meteorology, during a La Nina phase, cap Wivenhoe at 75%. Again on the Bureaus advice, with an approaching El Nino, increase water storage to 90%. If El Nino comes faster than expected so 90% is difficult to attain, there is now a water grid, desalination plant and water recycle plant to act as a back-up. While the last two produce dearer water, it is far cheaper tha

Storms and floods habitually cut electricity services. In a regionalised State, many communities rely upon power generated a great distance away often transmitted by a single strand of cables. This is wasteful and could be avoided. Setting up regional communities with distributed and community generation capacities, removes the waste and the vulnerability of regions to power blackouts during flood

Live on giant boats.

Retro-fitting design and planning practices to work with what we have.

Prompted by the Brisbane Floods 2011, master plan has been designed and developed in response to the event. The scenario that the masterplan is based on is a flooding/hightides as a normalised event. This design piece is a section of the whole masterplan, it is the section of the Southbank beach and the adjacent Brisbane River. Lisa Diedrich’s theory landscape oriented urbanism ‘where the e

When a flood is coming send council vans with loudspeakers up and down the streets broadcasting local water level estimates. Similar vans are sometimes used when the water mains are being turned off. This would be a more effective way of encouraging people to evacuate than only sending SES door knocking. - Our house flooded, we never saw the SES and many on our street evacuated with no belongings

A landscape planning approach to flooding in an approaching era of climate change and resource depletion.... T.O.Ds: Transit Oriented Development. G.O.Ds: Green space Oriented Development. Small urban centres based around community green spaces for recreation and productive land use. This land use could include parks and gardens, community gardens for niche food production, food education a

Tackle Climate Change Now.

Some native plants have leaves that act like sponges, such as cactus. These plants have hardly to no need to be cared for and can grow on their own. If we encourage the growth of the plants around bodies of water or flood affected areas they might absorb a fair bit of water.

Canterlever Kitchen and bathrooms to raise items above flood waters.

The amount of damaging debris that clogs the Brisbane River during flood events, not only pollutes the waterways but also clogs the river with potentially dangerous missiles to the landscape and surrounding infrastructure (bridges, pontoons etc) Orliegh park will be redeveloped as a densely vegetated and largely undulating landscape within the high depositional site which will encourgae deposits

The picture drawn shows the solution for Brisbane flooding in 100 years. The buildings in 100 years will be underground high-rise buildings of apartments and work buildings. The buildings are not drawn to scale so there would be several more levels to these. They will be made of brick below the ground and the walls and floors above the ground will be made of concrete with rebar to discontinue the

This idea aims to increase the resilience of various types of infrastructure while accepting the fact that the flooding of the vulnerable terrain of Brisbane is to be a frequent event. The required transformation of these vulnerable areas, in order to achieve this aim, will be possible due to the gradual (over a 100 year period) abandonment by current residential and commercial uses following incr

The Cutting Edge concept works with the existing site to create one system of resilience and the physical environment. This concept aims to provide guidance, knowledge and methods to all people worldwide by setting an example of living in flood-prone environments. Human interference and aid of support in a flooding crisis will become something of the past. This concept works with widening threshol

Where flood risks are moderate, an alternative to raising habitable floors a full-storey above ground, is to consider the use of split level sections. Where living, bedroom and bathroom levels are only half a storey apart, movement between levels is much simpler and the ease of living in a taller house is improved. This scheme proposes a kitchen and dining level 1.5 metres above ground, with st

TIPPING POINT is a concept that celebrates and embraces the dynamic nature of a fluid terrain1. It responds to the landscape as an ephemeral entity that is constantly shifting and evolving through time. It is a system that can absorb disturbances, change and self-organise to cope with flooding. This design embraces the dynamic interplay between the environmental systems of the Brisbane River an

They could make the foundation of buildings with more concrete in the basement so the water cant get in. (Also solar power and wind power are good)

Have false flood evacuations twice a year so people get used to it instead of staying in their houses being ridiculous.

In 1896 the Queensland Government Hydraulic Engineer John Baillie Henderson published a report on behalf the Queensland Government’s Water Supply Department with preliminary observations and recommendations following the 1893 Brisbane Flood. One idea he put forward was for two large canals to divert flood water from the Brisbane River to the sea. The first canal was proposed to be located

Make room for the river - Progressively redesign our urban form to.... MRFTR

Construct a leveled levy system to control flooding.

Firstly what items of a house cause the greatest cost. Rank these. Take the top 20% of the list and try to research and fund how we can make these items more reliable i.e not to fail, and maintainable i.e. how easy, quickly and cheaply it is to repair/replace after it fails. From a top down approach for new houses a floating house with poles buried into the ground that slide up and down say 5-10m

If everyone started drinking the water from the river they could recycle the water we wouldnt otherwise use and then the water wouldnt go into the houses and we wouldnt have to change anything.

In the event of continuous loss of power, synonymous with any flood or natural disaster, it is imperative that those in need of aid have the ability to use their mobile phones to contact loved ones and/or public aid workers. This idea incorporates the concept of hand-held generators into every mobile phone, such that one can physically charge their mobile phone battery any place, any time. It is

There is a lack of awareness and appropriate notifications to property owners about the risks of flooding at their properties. A system is needed that is linked to property titles to notify property owners about possible flood risks along with mechanisms to manage impacts on property valuations as a result of increased awareness. It is proposed that all properties at risk of flooding would have

Build houses that can be in trees.

This project amends and expands Brisbanes existing Ferry system (both physical forms and operation). Its ultimate objective is to promote a more flexible and durable transport system with a higher capacity to cope with disturbance. Vision Resilience is a process not a trait; it is not just the ability to bounce back to a previous state of operation, it is the ability to learn from experience.

Only allow people to build homes out of flood plains. - Better town planning (including SLQ and GOMA) obvious to people who saw the 1974 floods that buildings should be planned for flood.

Cloud Dwellers’ design for the Grantham Flood House won second prize in a competition organised by the Future Housing Taskforce. Our house has been designed with two wings to make it adaptable for a variety of sites. The building fabric uses materials which are resistant to water damage, and are used in a way that is easy to clean and get dry. The building elements are either made with sandwi

Hire and supervise competent engineers

Living in Rockhampton I saw the clear need to design a house that can cope with water coming in - and water going out. I have searched for a material to suite this occurrences. I have the plans ready for working drawings and the material is currently with the CSIRO. The Plastic we use is green friendly. Stronger than steel and lighter than wood. Composites have the lowest embodied energy of any b

A dutch company Dura Vermeer has already built houses in Maasbommel along the Maas River that will rise when there is flooding. The foundations are set into the river bank.

Four areas of Brisbane, near the airport, had vacuum sewer reticulation areas rather than traditional gravity sewers. Stormwater could not enter the system, and clients in these areas could still operate and no overflows of sewage could occur. Many flood prone areas around the world use these systems. Contamination from raw sewerage is a big problem in a flood.

The Queensland university could easily be levied against flooding from the Eleanor Schonell bridge (ABT) to just below the athletics stadium.

To flood proof Queensland we need to put lots more drains into the ground of the cities and towns. The water that goes onto the ground in the cities will then go into these drains and be taken away to rivers and dams and so on.

1. The idea proposed by Philip Kirsch to put flood lines on power poles. 2. Dont build affordable housing in flood plains

The ‘Floatable House’, designed by Matrix Design & Planning, is a conceptual proposal combining the house with a floating system. The floating system comprises three key components. 1.Movable Footing Due to the renovated structure of reverse trapezium shape struts sleeving concrete ‘mortar’, the building is sitting on the foundation rather than fixed on it. The design increases

Accurate flood modelling Making engineers accountable. For the record I am an engineer myself and my house got wiped out in the floods.

There are many ways to respond after seeing the damage done by the floods in Brisbane’s past. But it’s most important that we don’t choose to do nothing. “Hands Held High” is a phrase intended to encourage people to keep themselves dry for the next flood and to put their hands up to participate with the community in making a more flood-proof Brisbane. ...Ignore There’s nothing wors

After the recent Brisbane floods there was an overwhelming response by the public to assist in the clean up. The co-ordination however left many eager volunteers with nowhere to go. If volunteers were allocated a response area prior to the event it would greatly reduce the confusion and allow for quick, efficient action.

This concept works with the existing site to create one system of resilience and physical environment. Currently, we have two environments, one built, one natural, when a flood occurs these environments are merged into one without time for adaption and preparation. Creating a permanent physical environment aims to merge built and natural environments but at the same time ensure two environments ar

One of Brisbane River’s most prominent winding bends is on the West End bend (Orleigh Park). Where the river narrows significantly into a hair-pin bend and only tightens more so on exit. This sharp and narrow bend in the river lies home to significant water velocity measures, as the river rushes into and out of the West End bend. There is an opportunity to use this significant hair-pin corner

If every Australian resident pays $50 a year to a flood fund, over the years it would accumulate into a lot of money for future flood damage and repairs.

All neighborhoods should have flood evacuation areas.

While there was a great sense of community after the flood and many volunteers emerged to help those affected, Ive been asked to flag that some of those impacted werent necessarily happy about how the situation was handled. Im told that in many cases, too much was thrown out that need not have been discarded and that apparently sometimes volunteers didnt respect the homeowners desire to be the one

Subsidize low-income housing on high ground. Power pole stripes are a good idea.

To flood-proof our houses we could build boat bottoms on all our houses so that if it floods, the houses will just float.

Establish the B.R.I.S.B.A.N.E. Fund, ie the Brisbane Regional Inundation Savings Bank and Natural Emergency Fund. The Fund would collect $20 per person per year (increasing annually with CPI) from everyone in the Brisbane Region. This would raise $50M in the 1st year increasing to $80M by 2026. The accumulated real value over 25 years allowing for interest on deposits and inflation would be app

A return to the original white mans way of living - on stilts

We can flood proof Brisbane by using a machine that has two buttons. One for sending the water to Wivenhoe Dam and one for sending to taps in houses . So when the rain falls out of the sky that amount of water goes into Wivenhoe Dam and the tap water for the houses.

Install hydraulic struts to lift the house from resting level during flood events. Inbuilt winch systems to lift valuable items off ground. Design and image by Daniel Smith.

To flood proof Queensland… we could build houses out of cement and make inside roof the living place so that the flood won’t reach that spot. We can also make the roof shaped like a wave so that roof will make the water go over the building and back to a different spot.

Simply people need to have a plan - and not be complacent. Build canals to drain flood water to sea.

Houses are to float on pontoons. If flood gets high enough houses float until flood goes down.

Better management of Wivenhoe

Multifunctional Parks proposes the meaningful and safe integration of flood detention and stormwater quality measures into parkland. This can lead to higher quality parks, more efficient land use, a reduction in development costs and a reduction in park maintenance costs. These parks can have quick drying active recreational areas (so kids can play sport soon after it stops raining) and functi

“The Urban Jungle” The current site nestled in between the Go Between bridge and the Goodwill Bridge has proved that the linear systems are offering low resistance. During flooding the disturbance exceeded the systems critical threshold level and the system tipped into a state where it was not resilient to the disturbance. In response…The riverside boardwalk has been extended from William J

You cant flood proof it just plan development accordingly.

Good news stories for relationships that were forged out of connections that only made because of the floods eg. new neighbors who had previously been strangers ect.