Sunshine Coast homeowners planning to build or renovate in flood-prone areas can now access a new guide designed to help make their properties more resilient to flooding and storms.
Sunshine Coast Council has released its Flooding and Coastal Resilience Design Guide after councillors endorsed its publication on September 17.
The guide provides design options for new homes, renovations and dual occupancies affected by flooding, stormwater and coastal hazards.
It encourages property owners to understand the individual risks affecting their site before deciding how a home should be designed or altered.
Council principal engineer and guide co-author Nadia Guterres said flooding could affect properties well beyond those directly beside waterways.
“Many of us often assume flood risk only applies to waterfront properties, but numerous affected properties aren’t located next to waterways,” she said.
“Drainage issues and overland flow can impact homes right across our region.
“Understanding your property’s particular risks is always the first step in choosing the right flood resilience strategy for your property.”
The guide recommends approaches including raising homes on posts or fill, keeping areas beneath elevated homes open so water can pass through and using flood-resilient materials in properties that cannot be raised.
It also recommends protecting vulnerable services such as electrical systems, air-conditioning units and hot water systems from floodwater.
Environment and Liveability councillor Maria Suarez said homeowners could use council mapping to better understand the hazards affecting their properties.
Residents could download a site report prepared for the proposed planning scheme, which identifies flood, stormwater and coastal hazard mapping relevant to individual properties.
Cr Suarez said the new mapping was also available through council’s MyMaps system.
“The benefit of the new flood risk and stormwater risk mapping is that it allows for simplified design solutions and reduced assessment requirements in areas of low or moderate risk,” she said.
“It helps identify risks early in the design process, which is usually when the best solutions are available.”
The proposed planning scheme has not yet been formally adopted by council.
However, Cr Suarez encouraged people considering building or renovating to use the new information now.
“Make sure you understand your site and your risks before you start designing,” she said.
“Take the time to learn about flood risks, stormwater risks, the drainage behaviour of your property and future coastal hazards.”
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The guide applies to dwelling houses and dual occupancies and is intended as guidance rather than a mandatory set of requirements.
It is now available through Sunshine Coast Council’s website.
