More than 10,000 Brisbane properties added to city’s flood maps

More than 10,000 properties have been added to Brisbane’s flood maps, with insurers warned not to slug home owners with higher premiums.

It is part of changes to flood mapping for more than 17,000 properties in Brisbane, and will affect residents in Albion, Windsor, Wilston, Ashgrove, Newmarket, The Gap, Newstead, Enoggera, Bowen Hills, Herston, Kelvin Grove, Bowen Hills, Red Hill, Bardon and Fortitude Valley.

The changes, to be incorporated into flood overlay mapping on September 19, come after flood studies were done for the Breakfast Creek, Jindalee and Lota Creek catchments last year.

The mapping update will impact 17,246 properties, with 400 properties removed, 10,129 properties added and many others changing, including thousands that will have their flood risk category increased.

The updates apply to creek and waterway flooding, not Brisbane River or overland flow flooding.

A council report reveals 2746 properties will have their flood category increased as a result of being affected by Breakfast Creek.

For example, there were previously 670 residential properties listed as affected by Breakfast Creek flooding in sub-category two – deeper than 1.2 metres in a once in 100-year flood – that will increase to 1780 properties.

Letters will be sent to all affected property owners in September.

In a statement, the council said the flood risk update for many properties could be as low as a one in 2000-year event.

“It is important insurance companies do not try and cash in on this change and unfairly increase insurance premiums,” the council said in a statement.

Greens councillor Seal Chong Wah said she felt for the thousands of property owners who would be surprised and shocked by likely massive insurance hikes they could not afford.

Labor’s council opposition leader, Jared Cassidy, said there would be “insurance price shock” for thousands of residents, and called for the council to invest more in new drainage infrastructure.

“We support keeping residents safe and informed, but a critical role of council is limiting the impacts of developing in flood-prone areas,” Cassidy said.

“What’s been missing from this LNP council for over a decade is serious flood mitigation plan through real investments in drainage infrastructure and kerbing and channelling.”

In addition to insurance changes, affected home owners would have to comply with rules under the City Plan to ensure building work proposed in development applications was flood-resilient.

There have been 29 flood studies in the past decade.

Last year, updates to flood maps affected more than 8000 properties in the Kedron Brook, Brighton Creek, Toowong Creek, Sandy Creek and Witton Creek catchments.

Council Environment chair councillor Tracy Davis said being prepared for flooding could make a huge difference.

“No two floods are the same, but we are committed to giving residents the most up-to-date information, so they can make confident decisions to be prepared and protect their properties,” she said.

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