Flood inquiry recommendations are the right directions for safer communities
Engineers Australia, the peak representative body for the engineering team, has welcomed the draft report from the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.
The Queensland Division President of Engineers Australia, Dennis Wogan, said, “Now that the facts have been gathered and recommendations made, Engineers Australia fully supports the opportunities to ensure more accurate information and clearer decision-making practices for flood mitigation in the future.
“Experiences from the recent flooding have confirmed that it is critical that engineers who are often at the centre of managing flood mitigation are better resourced through up-to-date technology and information.
“It is also clear that the skills and contribution of engineers would be better utilised by being closely integrated in regular training, planning and communication activities with the key organisations that will become interdependent for safer outcomes when a major flood event is emerging.
"However, while it is critical to be well prepared, informed and rehearsed to manage a particular situation, the engineering issues around minimising the effects of flooding for all our communities involve long-term analysis and then the delivery and maintenance of the right infrastructure.
“There is a huge amount of work and costs underway to rectify the damage of the recent floods, and if the recommendations of the Inquiry are rigorously acted upon such economic damage through future events should be minimised.
“But of far more importance will be the safer communities that can be created,” Wogan said.
Media Contact: John Bright – 0407 234 490 / jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au
Engineers Australia is the common name of the Institution of Engineers Australia, with over 93,000 members
