Engineers Australia is the peak body for engineering in Australia, representing all disciplines and branches of engineering. Engineers Australia has over 90,000 members Australia-wide, making Engineers Australia the largest and most diverse engineering association in Australia. All Engineers Australia members are bound by a common commitment to promote engineering and to facilitate its practice for the common good.

Following release of the interim report, the Queensland Division of Engineers Australia formed a special sub-committee specifically for the purpose of reviewing the Commission’s report and to provide Engineers Australia Queensland Division with advice for constructive comment. Subcommittee membership has been selected from EA members to give representation covering a wide range of relevant experience. This submission presents the outcomes of the sub-committee’s review of the interim report and comments related to the issues that Engineers Australia Queensland Division sees as important for the final report. It is intended that these outcomes assist the commission in its further deliberations and also assist the government in implementation of the commission’s findings. Engineers Australia Queensland Division and its members are available for further input as required and would welcome further discussion.

The interim report has canvassed a range of input and technical material and has condensed this into a valuable document that will allow the experience of the 2010-2011 floods to improve our preparedness for future floods and to guide floodplain management into the future.

Therefore while this submission concentrates on the issues raised in the interim report, Engineers Australia sees that the most important lessons to be learnt from the disastrous floods are those that go to ensuring an improvement in floodplain management, flood preparedness and emergency services throughout the state for the future. While the floods in 2010-2011 were severe, floods are a part of Australia’s climatic conditions and large floods will continue to occur in the future and it is our desire to ensure that our community is prepared and that damage and hardship are minimised.

The interim report has focussed on recommendations that can be implemented in the short term, before the coming summer wet season in Queensland and we understand that the final report, to be released later, will focus on longer term issues facing the state.

Engineers Australia Queensland Division believes that although there are important issues to be covered in both of these reports, the most important lessons to be learnt are those that direct focus on the longer-term management of floods throughout Queensland. We must be prepared for floods throughout the state, including the areas of the state that escaped the devastation during 2010-2011.

Full report here