Levee banks touted as flood mitigation measure for Qld

With insurance premiums crippling thousands of regional Queenslanders, a protective strategy has been floated.

A flood levee protects the Queensland town of Dirranbandi in 2013.

Flood levees are being touted as the key to not merely flood mitigation across Queensland, but to lowering insurance premiums which are still financially crippling for thousands of regional residents.

Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston says flood levees, which gained traction following the 2010-11 summer of disaster, had demonstrated their worth over the decade and were already responsible for bringing down insurance premiums in some jurisdictions.

Mr Johnston said Queensland was the most disaster-affected state in the country – whether flood, drought, cyclone or fire – and a lot of the disasters occurred in regional Queensland.

Yet up to 97 per cent of government spending in relation to disaster had been on recovery rather than mitigation.

“While we can’t stop the weather, we can lessen its impact,’’ Mr Johnston said.

“If you reduce the risk, you reduce the impact these disaster events have on local communities, and in doing so you can put downward pressure on insurance premiums.

“A great example of that is building levees which protect homes, businesses and livelihoods in regional towns.’’

The push for flood levees followed the Summer of Disaster when then-recovery and resilience minister David Crisafulli began recalibrating Queensland’s approach to flooding from recovery to prevention.

Several flood levees have been built across the state in recent years, with some of the more notable projects in Roma and St George.

A temporary flood levee erected at Maryborough was singled out as a saviour during last year’s floods – despite initially failing.

Rockhampton Regional Council is also continuing to pursue funding for a huge flood levee expected to cost as much as $190m and extending nearly 9km from the Fitzroy Bridge in Rockhampton CBD to the Bruce Highway and Jellicoe St intersection, and taking in parts of flood-prone Depot Hill.

Suncorp modelling predicts the Rockhampton levee, if built, could save affected locals about $1000 a year on their home insurance premium.

A spokesperson for Rockhampton Regional Council said “council recognised the potential benefits of the South Rockhampton Flood Levee and updated the costings for the project annually”.

“Council continues to update costings for the project and review the latest advice around levee engineering and flood mitigation,” the spokesperson said.

“Funding was included in the 2023/24 Council Budget to update existing documentation which will be completed in the coming months.

“Council will also continue to engage with State and Federal Governments following the establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency and Queensland Reconstruction Authority around future funding opportunities.”

The latest project to be approved is the Bundaberg levee, a 1.7km concrete structure costing $174m, jointly funded by federal and state Labor governments and running parallel to the southern bank of the Burnett River.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority says the Bundaberg levee is the most beneficial of four options identified under the Ten Year Bundaberg Action Plan as best placed to reduce flooding such as that following ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013.

“The Bundaberg East Levee will be a shining example of flood-resilient infrastructure and a valuable, long-term asset for this wonderful region,’’ the QRA said.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the Bundaberg project would significantly improve flood protection for families, particularly in Bundaberg’s east, south and CBD precincts.

“We know that every dollar spent on disaster resilience and mitigation delivers a return on investment to governments and households nine times over, while also putting downward pressure on insurance premiums,’’ Mr Watt said.

Mr Johnston said that, in his role as Suncorp CEO, he had personal experience in dealing with flood-affected Queenslanders, and had come to understand the psychological damage associated with flooding.

Flood mitigation was a community obligation which went far beyond a mere business case, he said.

“When flood waters come up through the floor and into your home and destroy your belongings the emotional impacts can be devastating and far reaching,’’ he said.

“That is not something you cannot assess in purely financial terms.’’