flood of ideas

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

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.

Our idea is tree houses. Everyone would live in their regular houses, but in the event of a flood the people would move into a giant tree planted in their backyard which is quite tall. In the tree, there would be ladders and bridges between branches to get around. The tree house would be just like a normal house and being made from wood with a thatched roof; this house would be relatively environm

Colonel John Pennycuick was commissioned by the Queensland Government to investigate the cause and impacts of the 1893 Brisbane flood and provide recommendations for preventing the occurrence of a similar disaster in the future. In November 1899 he published a report that identified the primary cause of flooding in Brisbane as the volume of water arriving upstream from the Stanley River. His ke

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

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

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

Live on hills! Queenslanders

Education. What to do in a crisis etc.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Put the city on stilts.

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.

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

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

Picture 1: House on the Ground This image is of a normal house on the bank of the Brisbane River in 100 years time, when anything is possible. If this house had no technological advances then it would almost certainly be inundated with water. Option 1: House with legs This house can easily grow a large pair of legs that can walk it all over the city, to vacant land so the house will be safe dur

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,

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

Do not build in flood prone areas

Keep houses light weight and be able to be raised when a flood is signaled.

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).

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

Raise Australia

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

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

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

Log and stone-filled gabion barriers are built into the river along the existing shoreline. Slowly, over time the deposition of soil will create a new publicly accessible riverbank. Eventually a path could be built connecting Merthyr Rd with Stanley Street. This infrastructure would protect the ferry terminal and shoreline from debris and erosion during flooding. Mangroves naturally establish w

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.

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

We need to rethink - not Dams but flood mitigation schemes. ie. Lockyer Valley - Bremer River which all flow towards Brisbane

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

TIDAL-SCAPE is a concept for the area spanning Merivale Street Bridge to QPAC. Imagine walking through a tidal ecosystem designed, seeded and formed by nature. The system would be both shaped by and reliant on the tide and flooding as a part of its functioning and would serve as a valuable educational resource for both professionals and the public. Through the TIDAL-SCAPE concept nature claims

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Wide flood water canals/concrete channels to take large volumes of water away from city Start channel at Brisbane river near Corinda and go mainly east towards the coast or into another water catchment. Large underground pipes could be used but may clog up; open channels wont get too blocked but will need to go through suburbs so many houses will have to be removed. More bridges will have to be bu

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

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

Build things on hills.

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

The final blog post in this series is based on the Resilient Homes category. This category seemed to resonate with people affected by the floods as the ideas are about directly combating the water, and the devastation left behind after the flood waters retreat. The ideas in this category rethink the elements that make up a typical home, both individually, and as a system. Some of these elements in

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

People living in a fish bowl

- Permeable pavements - Water/rain into table water - Re-organize urban planning

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

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 help flood proof Brisbane… you can use helicopters that have big buckets. These big buckets can be dipped into the Brisbane River to lower the water level and stop the water overflowing into the city. The water in the buckets can then be taken to dry land or places that need water.

This is my DIMONDILIA SEMI DOME. If a flood ever occurs the flood will hit the very hard glass bowl and not come in and trash the whole of Brisbane. This is effective and the people of Brisbane do not need to feel like they have spent their whole lives in a gigantic glass dome. It is called SEMI DOME because it is a dome with no top so people can breathe and have that lovely air. This may have a d

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.

“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

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

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

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

To flood proof Queensland we could build a mote around the important cities, buildings and houses. This will stop the water getting in because the motes will be really deep. There will also be pipes at the bottom of the motes to take the water to other places.

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

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.

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.

Inspired by the original 80s Safety House scheme, the idea of a Powerhouse sticker which would be nationally recognised as a source of power in an emergency situation. Constructed of solar panels and power sockets and attached to a power pole so that once it gets wet the base would float up. It would be placed on the high end of a previously flooded street and be vandal proof. It could also bec

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

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

This significant piece of hydraulic infrastructure that would reside close to the existing river system and target low lying suburbs that suffer flood water inundation. The network would relieve the flood water as it occurred by eventual channeling of the water back to the open ocean/bay and effectively bypassing the already flooded river during a flood event.The canal would take the form of both

Flood inundation of low-lying creek catchments in Brisbane was largely the result of river water rising into the mouths of creeks and across adjacent riverbanks. The large Oxley Creek catchment was flooded through a relatively small breach at the mouth of the creek. This may have been prevented by floodgates installed at Pamphlett Bridge, and linked to a landscaped levee extending less than one

More Tunnels! (to siphon flood water underground)

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

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.

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

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

It cant be done in short period. We have to think to solve the long term climatic hazard. For a developed country like Aus, we need to think and act on CO2 emission mitigation and work on adaptation science. Hope this kind of disaster will not happen to Queensland in future.

Most buildings are made of timber which is very vulnerable to flood waters and cyclones. I would suggest using reinforced concrete buildings with  two or three stories.

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

Stop putting carbon into the atmosphere to limit sea level rise.

“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

Description of ideas: The image we have gone with is called Ikeas Ark because In 100 years time there will be a flood. This Ikeas Ark will be very useful as it will not only save people’s lives, pets and belongings, but also their houses. Because in 100 years, IKEA will be selling flat pack houses which can be set up and packed away in an hour. Ikeas Ark will be a luxury cruise boat, with 500

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

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

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

Everyone learn swimming lessons with Superman and Batman.

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

F=Flood=Flexible Fixed+Flood=Failure

TIDAL-SCAPE is an experiment in resilience, a landscape which depends on the Rivers’ tides and occasional flooding to form, evolve and function. TIDAL-SCAPE will be initially formed by; 1.Breaking down physical barriers such as retaining walls. 2.Allocating by public lottery, a 2m x 2m plot of land (to be located by GPS) to families, individuals and community groups. 3.These individuals/gr

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.

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

Houses on buoyant platforms that are anchored to weights.

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.

Evacuate to the moon

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

Floating City

We could get insurance to make everything easier

During flood events the houses become an empty shell. The shell is made of strong, resistant materials to withstand the flood waters. After the water has evaporated the shell can be hosed out and the structure can be cleaned with ease. Design and image by Daniel Smith.

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

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

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

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

My idea is a rubbish machine. It cleans up the rubbish by using a blower. First it goes to a house. Then it uses the blower and sucks up the rubbish and water. Then the blower connects to the bins so when the rubbish is in the blower it falls into the bin. After that they tip the rubbish in the rubbish dump. The Rubbish Machine helps people by cleaning rubbish that the floods have made. it

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

As each new development is designed, design in mind with electricity and major infrastructure i.e.- plant rooms for buildings on middle or top floors instead of underground car parks and schools and hospitals on hills or higher ground. (flood markers on houses)

This landscape concept is based on the understanding that whilst the Brisbane River is a system that can be completely described by ecological rules and mathematical equations, the system is more than capable of producing outcomes that are entirely unpredictable. It is then the focus of this concept to develop conditions within the River System that look at creating new landscape typologies whi

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.

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.

Increase dam capacity

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

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

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

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

Build more houses on hills

This design intervention centres around the themes of flow; flow from the water, from the land, from humans, movement through the site both from the land and the water. The design looks at incorporating the themes of flow into the landscape. For example the flow from a flood of rising water, or on a more regular basis the flowing movement of people through the site. The design interventions are

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

All neighborhoods should have flood evacuation areas.

Remember the Nile! Floods were used to great advantage for fertilizing the land along the river. Keep the river flats for market gardens and ensure the environment upstream is clean and healthy.

We could keep less water in dams or creeks so when it does flood it flows into the dam.

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

Live on giant boats.

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

Make leading edge designed to ride over debris.

SKIP-HOUSE is designed to provide temporary accommodation for flood displaced residents. The concept is simple, REDUCE the amount of embodied energy and processing in creating a 1 in 30 year product by RE-USING an existing implementation system, materials and existing community amenities, and RECYCLE the whole lot. SKIP-HOUSE is delivered in a skip bin at the flood alert stage (rather than just

Everyone has a Grapple to get away from water.

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

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

Giant Bubbles

Build more community centres higher off the ground so people can go there and not be afraid of more flooding.

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

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

Hire and supervise competent engineers

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

Houses built on a metal block

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.

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

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

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

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.

Terminals are placed in very loose spaces or just on the edge of a space. They also usually have poor flows and they fail to have any connection to the space behind them. This master plan explores using the terminals as a way for Brisbane to create a connection with its river. They are used to create better flows, improve connectivity and to remove the hard edge and create more awareness of the �

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

Deep sea disco

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,

Better information available as to the best way to use sand-bagging and where areas of danger are e.g. city blocks with underground generators etc with possibility of electrocution.

Buildings that float

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!

Build house boats

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.

Urban Wells is a concept for capturing flood water once flows break river banks. The result will be a reduction of peak flood levels and therefore a limitation of flood inundation and damage. Future economic savings through limitation of flood damage and its knock on economic effects helps to justify construction costs. Urban Wells are essentially an alternative response to urban infill develop

Ministerial Responsibility

Steps that float

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

*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

Manage flood plains for floods not against them.

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

Dross:Strata - accepts the idea that the next rapid growth phase of the adaptive cycle will create socioeconomic and cultural densification on the higher terrain. Therefore what uses will be appropriate to be included within the fluid terrain to avoid it becoming defunct? This concept suggests a need to visualise and seize design opportunities that can manifest themselves on new (previously wasted

A community centre in each town that is higher off the ground.

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

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.

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

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

Putting balloons on houses to fly above the water.

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

Dont build on flood plan! Too easy.

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

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

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

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

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

Build more dams that can hold much more water.

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

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.

Statewide flood modelling will assist with land use planning in Queensland. All new land developments must be required to demonstrate how they will achieve necessary freeboard for major flood events. A state planning framework for better urban water management would be useful. This would provide a mechanism for ensuring all new developments are outside of the floodway and that development on flood

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.

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

Move to NSW NSW is awesome

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

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

Stop damming waterways change building regulations/approvals

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

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

Over the past decade climate and flood modelling and geographical information systems have revolutionised our ability to map and communicate flood risk. No longer are the black box computations of hydrologists hidden away in tables of numbers in the appendix of a door stop report. Contemporary modelling and mapping techniques now allow us to look beyond the old blue line of inundation which typ

Be better prepared for the next one.

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

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 .

Cloud Seeding

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

Canterlever Kitchen and bathrooms to raise items above flood waters.

Underground Tunnels Food supply tunnels

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Floating veranda with skirts that raises and protects house from water.

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.

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)

Having some sort of structure in place that springs up or is quick to install to stop the flood from reaching areas of worst hit/prone. Having this in place along the side of the river that is lower...i.e. Southbank...when prior warning is given then that flood gate is mechanically activated and they spring up...I think for sounding this should be double enforced so that the 1st gate once up will

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

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.

“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

Re-establish the chain of ponds

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

Adaptable, resilient, designs.

Have people living in flood prone areas sign a waiver form saying they accept the risk they live with - or relocate.

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

While devising short and medium term solutions to this problem, there should be a long term plan to phase out as much development as possible from the floodplain. Otherwise we will keep paying the price of living in a floodplain.

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

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

Dont build on flood plains - it is not complicated.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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)

Unlike what has happened in the past few years, the council could require developers of multi-storey buildings to put building services above flood levels in areas where flooding could occur rather than allow those services to be put in the basements. When building services are damaged by flood waters it affects all residents in the building not just residents on the ground floor. It displaces man

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

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 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

You cant flood proof it just plan development accordingly.

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

I am constructing a house that I designed to cope with flooding among other things. My main structural concerns were wind, flooding, and soil instability and movement, followed by fire and termite resistance. The lowest level will be sacrificial non structural infill, or left for carparking, landscaping, or large family gatherings. External covering on the next two levels are corrugated steel, gla

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.

Construct a leveled levy system to control flooding.

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

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

Dredge Wivenhoe to maintain maximum capacity

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.

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

To flood proof Queensland we could build houses that have extendable stilts/stumps. This means that as the water rises we can just increase the height of our buildings through an automatic system by the press of a button so that the water just flows underneath.

Cover QLD in a globe like in the Simpson movie.

I don’t think we can flood proof Queensland because we cant control the rain. I think we can just stop the damage floods cause. So, we need to build our houses on a big block of cement. This will make the houses very strong and high so that the water can’t get into the houses, or wash them away.