flood of ideas

You cant flood proof it just plan development accordingly.

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

Portable flood barriers using pallets. They are easily transportable and a simple metal clip in the corners with a plastic sheet will allow fast flood barriers to protect homes and business. You can fit around 300 pallets on a truck.

1. We should focus on retrofitting. 2. We need to better plan for stormwater not just the river.

2 and 3 story houses with power (electrics) at the top.

Regulate the housing industry as strong as we regulate the mining industry! Stop building on flood plains. Retreat away from flood plains over time returning currently built-on areas to parks/open space/wildlife corridors.

Re-establish vegetation in the catchment area so flows are spread instead of peaking as high.

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

Image www.greenchange.com

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)

This design is located in West End which was a site predominately affected by stormwater backup during the floods of 2011. The overall concept of this design was to create a water cleansing urban parkland, which will restore and promote biodiversity within the site whilst creating a healthy, educational, recreational and ecological environment. This project builds the resilience of the site for

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

Boulders create a permeable wall creating a space where water can move around freely and eventually eroding away the spaces in-between. As the space ages a fluid terrain is revealed, where the edge between river and land can no longer be defined (Mathur & Da Cunha, 2006). The boulders prevent the majority of land below the cliffs from eroding away due to high velocity flows of the river. Becau

To flood proof the Brisbane River… we need to make it deeper. If this doesn’t work because we get too much rain, we can build temporary walls which are supported by steel bars. This will keep the water flowing in the river and not going into the city.

A fireproof and waterproof container in which valuables are stored. The enclosure would be available in various sizes with varying security (locking, fire rating and water rating) and methods of fitting. Perhaps economics and/or demand would dictate lower cost boxes that are fire-only or water-only suitable. The idea is that in the event of sudden fire or water ingress the box can be shut/locke

Build house boats

This is basically an image to get people to think about if we have actually seen what the river can do, and should we be preparing for the river to rise or change its course. It is also about what would it mean for Brisbane if the water did rise another couple of meters...

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.

Dont build on flood plains - it is not complicated.

Put the city on stilts.

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.

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

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.

This page is a follow-up to my original idea submitted last month. The detail in this expands on the concept of embracing a fluid terrain for the Kurilpa Point to QPAC river frontage and also addresses the issue of stormwater flooding in the low lying streets behind. In this summary of a larger proposal, the dynamics of mound formation, planting and appearance are explored in greater detail. Some

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

- Clean the rivers out - No development on krown low lying land or the council faces large fines.

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

Need better warning systems Employ competent dam engineers

Houses on stilts (works in Asia). Devise a porous concrete that allows surplus water to soak into soil and bedrock.

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

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

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

Rural swimming programmes to increase water/flood safety awareness in these sometimes very dry/sometimes very wet areas.

A point of engagement The Howards Smith Wharves area has been designed to be engaging to the public by providing mixed recreational, functional and educational features. Its key feature is the man made tidal pool located at the east end of the HSW historic site. The site addresses the issue of connectivity through the site with an emphasis on multi user access and acts as a connection node to

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 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

New Farm is situated on a peninsula that is formed by the Brisbane River. Extensive damage occurred in New Farm during the January 2011 Floods and was mostly caused by the Stormwater Drain System. The flooding created an inland water body that offered low resistance. The neighbourhood suffers from flash flooding on a regularly basis after heavy rains. Raised dwellings will increase the resil

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

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

Everybody drink more water (8 glasses a day)

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

Heres a little something I have been working on since January with a couple of friends. Its nearly ready but heres a sneak peek. Share the Link and leave your comments. If you can help out in any way let us know even if its only a few hours volunteer work every week http://tinyurl.com/MRDPCSN

Floating vegetable produce gardens attached to the river/creek banks (the idea comes from indigenous tribes-people in the Amazon basin)

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

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

- Temp. Structures - Floating houses - Stormwater management - Absorbent Material

Berm structure in river to slow the flows.

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

To flood-proof Queensland… we need to use boxes, paper, plastic buckets and put these in our environment. These things can be used to soak up water or hold water. And if you have $900 you can buy more of these things to stop it flooding.

Even if we do flood again, we need clear insurance policies.

Have a warning system that where all residents connected to the water grid (outside river areas), are alerted, and asked to turn on all of their hoses into their gardens (calculate the water drain of one hose and refund that ammount on water bills).

Live on giant boats.

Putting balloons on houses to fly above the water.

Some streets become canals. Streets have water when flooded. Green-space when no floods.

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.

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

Plant solid trees on the side of the house or property that would be expected to be hit first by any flood. This would serve to stop floating debris from hitting the main property. Design and image by Daniel Smith.

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

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

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

Knock down old low density areas on badly affected floodplains. Replace with self-funding high-rise residential towers scattered on floodplain and accessed by flood proof tunnels. Increase flood conveyance of the floodplain around the scattered residential towers.

All flood prone areas to be re-instated as urban green space.

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

I believe preparation for future floods is essential. Educate people about floods, food supply, education centres before the event happens.

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

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

Stop building on flood plains - rehabilitate natural wetlands Stop destroying mangrove areas and building where the water courses are meant to be.

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

This concept is unrealistic - The reality is Bne is on a flood-plain. We have to construct houses differently and accept that some houses are out of bounds - except for grazing animals

Floating City

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

More Tunnels! (to siphon flood water underground)

Steps that float

All parks should have a knoll that is above accepted flood levels. The knoll should be used to site critical (and expensive) park infrastructure including shelters, playgrounds, clubhouses and amenities. The knoll can be created by selecting a new park with suitable topography and / or using earthworks to create the knoll. For existing parks, new infrastructure should only be funded and constructe

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

Think big and remake Brisbane into a world class city. Focus on house design, even small clusters of housing, misses the main opportunity for Brisbane to reshape the urban fabric at a grander scale. A suitable template for vast urban renewal is found in the Haussmann reshaping of Paris in the late 1800s. By rebuilding multistorey housing / retail / office space along grand arterial roads (with

International Ideas Competition For Low Impact Town Environments in Sub-tropical Areas Every man, and yes, his dog wants a piece of the flood rehabilitation pie. The locals and the well-connected have it sorted already. But this is an Australian pie and in fact there are global applications to be found for environmental disaster relief. Why not petition our elected representatives to take th

Release flood plains back to river. Move to higher ground

We could get insurance to make everything easier

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.

To flood proof Queensland, we need to have some very deep dams around our houses. At the bottom of the dam is a plug. If the dam starts filling up too much, we can turn the tap. This opens the plug at the bottom of the dam and lets some of the water out. The water that is let out goes through pipes to the sea.

Move the whole city 25 miles north away from the flood plain.

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

Introduce a flood tax for South East Queensland.

A CONTEMPLATIVE INHABITATION OF THE FLUID TERRAIN Two components of the proposal: (1) A walkable landscape A walkable landscape connecting people to the greater system; its functions, services and sensitivity. An increased walkable circulation between the Central Business District, Milton, Pertrie Terrace, Caxton Street, Roma Street Parklands, Spring Hill, Gardens Point, Woolloongabba, South Br

We can’t flood proof Queensland because we have no control over the rain, where it goes or how heavily it falls. So what we need to try and do is stop the damage flood water causes. To do this, I think we should build our houses and buildings so that the base is made in the same way to a boat. This would mean that if it flooded again, the houses would simply float and not get damaged.

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

In concluding his report for the Queensland Government of recommendations following the 1893 Brisbane flood, Colonel Pennycuick presented two key proposals. The first to create a ‘regulating reservoir’ at the junction of the Stanley and Brisbane rivers and the second, a range of modifications and improvements to the Brisbane river banks. He writes: “The only improvements to the river at B

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

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.

It is proposed that new buildings located on flood-able areas are to be constructed as light weight structures and are able to be lifted to safe elevation levels as water rise beneath them. The building will be placed on telescopic columns, able to withstand hydraulic pressure to displacement.  The foundations will be designed to fit lifting devices on which the structures will rest on above f

Build houses that can be in trees.

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.

Boat hire scheme to engage with the river.

Buildings that float

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

Build things on hills.

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

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.

The floods should give us cause to rethink the appropriateness of single storey housing. Two or three storey houses occupy much less site allowing more substantial vegetation, better privacy, outlook and cross-ventilation. In a flood, residents of a single storey house are more likely to lose their valuable possessions, be left with a totally inundated house and need to seek alternate accommoda

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.

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

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

Have a huge dome for flash floods

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.

Space ships carting the water to Mars to transform the planet so that we can inhabit that place, start all over.

To decrease flooding danger, make a carriage that lines up to a high point or hill.

Post flood relief worked best in highly organised, connected and skilled communities - as was the case for the highly effective Graceville Community Relief group. Massive post-disaster relief should not rely on ad hoc community responses but instead be able to draw on simple, disaster-specific information that has had prior expert input: emergency services, health experts, disaster relief experts

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.

I would suggest a network of canals and reservoirs  all across our country. The reservoirs can be away from cities in central Queensland/NSW/NT/WA regions. Our coastal area gets too much rainfall /cyclones etc and central Australia is dry. So whenever too much rainfall is in one area, water can be discharged into canals to take the water to any of the reservoirs and the water can be used later on

All neighborhoods should have flood evacuation areas.

Through community art installations in our communities and suburbs we can all help to inform each other and new residents to the area of the impact of floods. What is your idea for a community art project?

Leave control of flood gates to the professionals and not some idiot who dont know nothing form government.

You could have deep deep wells around the city and very big walls around the city too. And you could have a force field for the roof just if it floods inside. And you could also have an undergraound city so if all fails you could live underground and wait until the floods finish then when the floods wash away you can go back up .

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

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

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

Deep sea disco

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.

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

“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

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

Stone or concrete markers should be placed in flood zones showing the height of historical floods. This makes people more aware of which areas are prone to flooding and how high floods could possibly go. I know these probably exist already but there should be at least one in every street. This is a low cost way of maintaining public awareness. (Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/je

Move all land fill and land reclamation from our flood plains. Land filled by reclamation, dumps, storing of soils, rubble and recycled materials etc, in flood plains, increases future flood levels. It increases flood frequency, speeds up water flow and floods areas previously unaffected. While recycling is a way to a greener future, filling our flood plains is not environmentally sustainable.

My idea is the Flood Water Sucker 3000. It can suck up flood water and turn it into fresh drinking water. It has a filter in the machine that makes the water fresh. The water gets sucked up through the pipe into a container. There is a hole in the container and the water falls down into the bucket after going through the filter, and there are cups on the side of the bucket. You can wind up th

Generate hydro electricity to power pumps on high ground.

Establish a State fund to rehabilitate and protect natural environmental features on floodplains and coasts. Connecting a network of natural coastal features- sand dunes, mangroves, wetlands, beaches to their optimal functions will act as a barrier between the ocean and settlement-right up the coast of Queensland. Fund floodplain rehabilitation to allow floodplains to function and flow naturally,

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

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

My idea is simple and cheap. The risk of drowning could be reduced if all people in flood prone areas have ready access to PDF Type 1 life jackets that help to keep their head above water until they can save themselves or be rescued.

The wet marker & weather station is a digital warning and education centre that can be installed as a standalone object or fixed to existing structures such as bus stops, light poles and buildings in key flood risk public spaces. The device is activated and maintained by key government bodies allowing quick data upload from remote locations ensuring the information is up to date and relevant. O

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

This intervention in the landscape retains and cleans water in storm events, slowing the flow temporarily through Sandy Creek on its journey to the Brisbane River. Its about a measured detention, clean and release and this process is made visible to the local community in Tarragindi within an existing park. Strategies include water sensitive urban design and other infrastructure thats supports

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

Apply infiltration and retention upstream. Including above Wivenhoe. By slowing the water here we potentially reduce the peak downstream. Such ideas could also reduce pollution including pesticides and fertilizers entering the system.

This idea is to move houses for the hills and make the plains for the people. It helps deliver on higher urban density, greater urban greenspace, fewer foodmiles (the plains are for community agriculture), reduced stormwater pollution (it is harvested and used for irrigation)

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

Its pretty simple - dont build in flood prone areas in the first place. If you do/have/too late then think seriously about raising the floor height above the flood limit. This was done a lot in Brizzy after 74, and has been done in my rural, river-focused, flood-prone shire. Theres not much anyone can do about flash flooding in areas that dont normally flood, like Grantham, but Council/State could

We need advice after a flood. What should be thrown out and what can be saved? People threw out clothes, sheets, curtains, ect which could be washed and reused. Could electric goods bee dried out and reused? They were in 1974. The courier mail and TV stations could disseminate this information.

Coordinate flood planning at state level. Stricter building controls. Early warning systems.

Cloud Seeding

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

The Crown Ecology House was designed over 10 years ago by an innovative Australian Engineer. The house is highly engineered, easy to erect, endorsed by CSRIO and tested to withstand cyclones and earthquakes. This house is ideally suited for flood-prone areas and can be easily erected and constructed. I met the man who designed the house earlier this year and I think it is ideal solution to h

Increase dam capacity

Less Water More T-Rex

As part Colonel Pennycuik’s report for the Queensland Government in 1899, he references an idea that he received in the form of a letter by Mr R. M. Stuart. Stuart’s idea was to create a diversion canal from the ‘left bank’ of the river (north bank) near the old cemetery (assumed to be the original North Quay cemetery) and rejoining it near the mouth of Breakfast Creek, thus relieving t

“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

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.

Just like the UV and Fire Danger Index, when the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) is above 20, East Coast QLD should be declared as having a high flood danger and people should be warned to prepare.

Dams that have our water supply that go off into pipes should have ways to activate release (eg. holes all along it that can slide open) that way we can disperse the excess water in emergency.

Specially designed boats/barges which can put alongside specially designed houses with one wall with huge pneumatic door which can open up to get belongings taken out quickly - if the worst happens!

Move to NSW NSW is awesome

More dams.

They should release water from the dams during the wet season so that if we do get a lot of rain like we did last year it would be okay. But only release enough water so that we still have enough water if it doesnt rain like it did.

If building move onto higher ground

More monitoring and controlling dam water levels prior to times of the year prone to flooding based on previous weather records and cyclical season patterns. Better risk management.

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

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

Manage flood plains for floods not against them.

To flood proof Queensland… we need to build our important buildings like houses on hills. The water wont get the houses up on high land

The pylon forest serpentines and wades the wetness of the Northbank reaches of the Brisbane River. Post expressway, the pylons wade the mud suspending a riparian walk and commuting corridor for people to engage with place, to share ideas and experience Brisbanes future. Connecting people to the greater system, its functions, services and sensitivity to increase the walkable circulation between the

City Connection will provide the people of Brisbane with a flood proof Promenade that will increase the connectivity between Brisbane and its River. The design also increases the Height of the Prominent River Wall that separates the Brisbane River from the land on the East Side of Kangaroo Point (East Point). This will not only prevent future flood waters from spilling in to the Riverside homes an

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

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

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

This design idea is all about challenging how we use floodplains in Brisbane at present, and suggesting more sustainable options. The recent flooding has shown us that the river is not an entirely definable body of water, but part of a fluid terrain. It has also shown us that our urban environment is not always appropriately designed to cope with flood damage. Perhaps it would be better to make th

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

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.

The individual and societal response to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan can be studied as an example for what can be achieved in community preparedness. Japanese children undertake regular earthquake drills in schools, and the society is always ready. While the last big event was Kobe 1995, everyone was prepared in March 2011. This is a resilient country. Unfortunately, much of Bris

Stop building river front mansions and million dollar apartments. Turn the land near the river to a natural parkland... Or pass the flood bill to those who allowed developers to have their way!

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

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

1. The River Hydraulic interlocking panels along the rivers edge provide a footpath/bikeway for everyday use but these panels can be hydraulically raised during floods to provide a temporary levee to protect against flooding. This concept could also be used to create channels to redirect excess water to minimise flood damage 2. The HomeSame principle; interlocking hydraulic panels that form a

Our underground body corp basement flooded to 30cm depth. So did all the other basement carparks in our area. This flood came up through sewer and storm water over pressure caps and the building sumps didnt work because the power was out

The site is located between the Goodwill Bridge and Macrossan Street. The site was not severely damaged by the flood waters and showed some resilience in its current state. The aim of the design concept is to increase the response time to remove valuable property before the arrival of a flood and the clean up after the flood, as a redesign of the whole site is not economically feasible. The d

I think volunteer support should be co-ordinated for rehabilitation after the aftermath. By that I mean, when everyone went back to work the volunteer army stopped but I am sure if people knew where to go they would still want to help on their weekends. Say an elderly couple had their entire garden wiped out/covered in mud they would need a lot of work to get their place back up and running.

My idea focuses on the river edge between Howard Smith Waves and Sydney Street Ferry Terminal. The current issue with this area is public river access. The floating walkway was a great solution allowing public river views and interaction; unfortunately it was inundated so I used this opportunity to design a new approach. There are two main parts to my design; a tunnel and UV lighting. To achieve p

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

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

Adaptable, resilient, designs.

I love living in West End - it is a great community, keeps our carbon footprint small, close to work, school, church and entertainment. I save much time avoiding long and slow commuting. I am ready and willing to take the risk that my property will flood from time to time, as it did this January. Also, because it is my choice to live in West End and reap the daily rewards, I dont expect flood-reco

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

More and bigger storm water drains

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

3rd Year Landscape Architects at QUT will this semester explore ideas for celebrating the tidal and hydraulic characteristics of the Brisbane River near QUT Gardens Point. Highly speculative ideas will be generated during our exploration of how QUT, Parliament House and North Bank might become reacquainted with the River – an historic relationship that was separated by the Riverside expressway.

Better management of Wivenhoe

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

Giant Bubbles

The Annex is a lightweight beach house that was designed as a weekender for a city based family. The site is 100 m from the beach and faces west over a tea tree coloured creek. The local council required the building to be able to be removed by 4WD within 12 hours of the sea reaching 50 m from the property boundary. This requirement dictated small building pods that can be relocated. To increase

Step 1: Start with an engineered solution to regular inundation. Step 2: Minimise stormwater runoff. Step 3: Transpose this concept onto your landscape, integrating the engineered solutions with urban design. In this example, a vibrant urban community in the heart of the city, where public space, high density living, retail and commercial opportunities are integrated with a landscape t

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.

Everyone learn swimming lessons with Superman and Batman.

Education. What to do in a crisis etc.

There needs to be more accuracy in Councils flood overlays and more effective links between DERM & councils. At present, I am bandied back and forth between councils and DERM about who wants to provide the appropriate information. Most of the time Im told to check with a local who has lived there for a long time.

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

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

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

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

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

My idea is to measure the water around flooded houses every day. It is a water sucker and a measure stick. The stick measures the water going up and down and if the stick goes under water the water sucker starts to work. It sucks up the water and some rubbish, but not a lot of rubbish. There is a camera that sees rubbish in the water and a rubbish pickerupper can get it. The water sucker puts

When it detects a dickhead trying to drive through flood waters, it knocks them out, chucks on the breaks and sets up a road block.

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

This design allows for jetties and pontoons to be raised out of the water during flood conditions. A crane-like winch housing forms landfall end of jetty. Jetty connection with pontoon is a pivot. During flood conditions jetty/pontoon can be winched out of the water - like a cranes boom. Pivot connection allows pontoon to swing freely as lifted - like a ferris wheel carriage. Advantages of

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.

Be better prepared for the next one.

Everyone has a Grapple to get away from water.

More urban density in non-affected areas. Parks, gardens, spaces in flood-prone areas. Plus better insurance regime for affected people.

Advertise flood prone areas to enhance appeal of suburbs. Where you need to keep houses, use high houses or floating houses

- 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.