Temporal and Permanent Occupation of Floodplains

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 these large flood-prone areas more flexible and less stringent to improve their chances of surviving flood inundation.

Some of the commercial areas in Milton and Toowong have been replaced with areas of temporal occupation.  These include camping grounds and parkland.  More permanent residential areas have also replaced these commercial districts.  These houses and apartment complexes would have self-flushing basement car parks or garages, with two doors at opposite ends.  This would allow water to flow in and out during a flood and drain back to the river when the tide receded.  In St Lucia a large, severely impacted, residential area has been converted to open parkland with movable or raised public amenities. These are just some design solutions suggested here which would aim to make Brisbane more resilient to flooding.