Townsville City Council councillors discuss new flood mapping for city

While Townsville still continues to cop rain following widespread flooding, council has moved forward with new modelling of the flood hazard overlay mapping, with some councillors citing resident concerns over soaring insurance premiums.

Sunday February 2. Heavy rain lashes Townsville causing flash flooding. Jo Martin carries her cat Kramer and Peter Sharpe in Carmody Street, Rosslea. Picture: Evan Morgan

While Townsville still continues to cop rain following on from the devastating 2025 floods, the council has moved forward with new modelling of the flood hazard overlay mapping, with one councillor expressing concern the information could be used by insurers to hit residents in their wallets.

The Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) for Flood Planning report, presented to councillors at Wednesday’s Ordinary Council Meeting, outlined that the current mapping of the Townsville City Plan is informed by ‘outdated flood modelling which does not include effects of climate change”.

Sunday February 2. Heavy rain lashes Townsville causing flash flooding. Kings Road, Hyde Park. Picture: Evan Morgan

Presenting officer Nicholas Griffin said the “major amendment” to the mapping would make future development more “flood resilient.”

Updates to flood studies for the Bohle and Landsdown catchment areas are being undertaken to resolve issues with models and incorporate more recent developments, for the modelling to then be submitted to the state Minister for Planning Jarrod Bleijie.

Between 2021 and 2023, Townsville City Council engaged consultants to update its flood studies to get a better understanding of the flooding effects on the city.

The project works were released to the public in late 2024 as part of a six-week community engagement period.

Flood modelling study areas. Picture: Townsville City Council.

During the meeting Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney questioned that considering the consultation was conducted in late 2024, would the modelling have changed when considering the 2025 flooding event.

“Given what we have experienced over the last three months, do you think it’s changed significantly?” Ms Greaney asked.

“Every rainfall event adds data, theoretically that has an influence on the frequency of particular sized floods. It includes the 2019 event also,” Mr Griffin said.

Cr Batkovic asked, with the recent floods being a 1 in 100 events and with insurance costs already “through the roof”, if insurance companies would be barred from using the modelling as a reason for price hikes.

“Some of the insurance companies are stating that due to our flood mapping, with the modelling, that their property floods but it’s actually never flooded,” she said.

Townsville City Council Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney.

Cr Batkovic proposed the final modelling feature wording to highlight the maps are not for insurance purposes.

“I know that we can’t stop insurance companies from using it, some do, some don’t, but it’s a bit frustrating for residents when they see the flood mapping and their house has gone blue all of a sudden,” she said.

“I don’t really feel like it’s fair for somebody to get an increase in their insurance, because they are potentially flooding in a 1 in 100 event in the future.”

Mr Griffin said it was a “difficult” matter and that the council can’t control what the insurance industry does with the information.

“Most likely some insurers will use the information, some will not,” Mr Griffin said.

The recommendation, that the council makes, prepares and submits the proposed TLPI to the Minister, was carried unanimously.

A submission to the Planning Minister is expected to be made in the next two months.

Originally published as Townsville City Council councillors discuss new flood mapping for city