FLOOD FACT SHEET
Infrastructure & Planning Services
(as at 18 March 2013)
Temporary Local Planning Instrument 2013 (TLPI) and
Natural Hazard Management Area (NHMA)
Bundaberg Regional Council was hit with its highest flood in recorded history with the Burnett River peaking on the
29 January 2013 at 9.53m at the Bundaberg City gauge.
Council has prepared a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) to facilitate short term planning requirements
regarding management of land use issues immediately following the 2013 Flood event. Council recognises that the
2013 event affected catchments outside the Burnett River and is reviewing the data from these events to formulate
an appropriate flood response for these localities. As approximately 80% of the flood damage occurred within the
Burnett River catchment, Council has given priority to this locality for the most immediate flood response.
The TLPI has been developed to guide building and development in flood affected parts of Bundaberg Regional
Council affected by the January 2013 Burnett River Flood.
What is a Temporary Local Planning Instrument
(TLPI)?
What is a Natural Hazard
(NHMA)?
A TLPI is a land use planning instrument that is
introduced generally as a temporary measure to manage
impacts from issues such as flood. The TLPI applies to
development in the areas identified in the relevant maps
and must comply with the new Burnett River Flood
Hazard Code as outlined in the TLPI.
The purpose and general effect of the Natural Hazard
Management Area (flood) and declared flood levels is to
provide minimum flood immunity for housing and other
development within areas affected by flooding from the
Burnett River.
Is my property affected by the TLPI and NHMA?
The TLPI and NHMA applies to all land wholly or partially
affected by the January 2013 Burnett River Flood event.
To view the TLPI Maps, please visit the Building &
Planning Flood Recovery Team page on Council’s
website at: www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au
How does the TLPI affect my property?
The TLPI assists in achieving an improved flood
resilience of properties by:
1. Confirming the Habitable Floor Level adopted by the
Natural Hazard Management Area;
2. Allowing houses to be raised higher than the 2013
event to a maximum overall height of 9.5m above
natural ground level on standard residential lots;
Management Area
The Natural Hazard Management Area will require
Building Certifiers to assess any building approvals
against MP 3.5 of the Queensland Development Code,
which outlines requirements for construction of buildings
in flood hazard areas. This includes building to a
habitable floor height above the Defined Flood Level
and using flood resistant building materials.
This mapping with the TLPI also identifies areas of flood
waters with high velocities. Dwellings constructed within
areas of water velocities greater than 1.5m/sec will
require a structural engineer to certify the dwelling.
What does the Burnett River Defined Flood Level
mean?
The Defined Flood Level (DFL) is the based upon the
January 2013 Flood Event of a peak flood height of
9.53m at the Bundaberg gauge. The mapping that forms
part of the TLPI has heights for individual properties.
3. Changing the level of assessment for new dwellings
requiring a town planning application for those
dwellings that are proposed less than the Defined
Flood level and those dwellings that exceed 9.5m
overall height; and Introducing additional requirements
for filling an excavation including additional technical
standards and requirements for properties affected by
a creek, waterway and Burnett River flooding.
PO Box 3130, Bundaberg QLD 4670
190 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg QLD 4670
ABN 72 427 835 198
T 1300 883 699 F 4150 5410
E floodrecoveryteam@bundaberg.qld.gov.au
W www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au
Flood Fact Sheet (as at 18 March 2013)
Page 2
Does the TLPI impose minimum floor levels?
Yes – minimum floor levels are required for habitable
spaces of new dwellings or dwellings being raised to
improve flood resilience.
The minimum habitable floor level is the Burnett River
Defined Flood Event plus 300mm. The minimum nonhabitable floor level will remain unchanged (which
includes non-residential properties). If repairing a house
like for like, the standard in the TLPI does not apply.
However, Council is strongly encouraging residents to
adopt this standard as this will provide better flood
resilience in the future.
How do I determine the habitable floor level on my
property?
To determine the minimum habitable floor levels of your
property, please contact Council’s Building & Planning
Flood Recovery Team on 1300 883 699.
Council can provide a report on the 2013 flood level for
the property, ground levels and a calculated minimum
habitable floor level upon request.
My house has been identified as structurally
unsound and needs to be demolished. Can I rebuild
on the site?
This is dependant on the underlying zoning of the land.
Please contact Council’s Building & Planning Flood
Recovery Team for further advice about your land.
If I need a development approval under the TLPI,
what will it cost?
Council will be providing free pre-lodgement advice for
flood affected properties where these proposals include
improved flood resilience. During the twelve month
operating period of this TLPI, Council will not be
charging application fees for any applications that are
assessable only against the Burnett River Flood Hazard
Area Code.
How long will it take for my application to be
approved?
Council will fast track flood related applications.
Approval times will depend upon the complexity and
type of applications. Proposed timeframes can be
provided as part of the pre-lodgement advice.
Do I need to raise the floor level when planning an
alteration or an addition to an existing dwelling in a
flood affected area?
No – not when the proposed extension to an existing
dwelling that is situated below the defined flood event
does not exceed 50 square metres in gross floor area,
and the finished floor level of all habitable rooms is not
less than the floor level of the existing habitable rooms.
If the extension is greater than 50 square metres, you
will require a Code Assessable Development
Application and applicants should contact Council’s
Building & Planning Flood Recovery Team for advice.
DFL – Defined Flood Level HFL – Habitable Floor Level
Do I have to raise the height of my home?
No - but Council is strongly encouraging residents to
raise dwellings where possible to the Burnett River
Defined Flood Height as this will provide better flood
resilience into the future.
Can I raise the height of my home?
Owners can raise their houses to 300mm above the
Defined Flood Level without the need for a planning
application, so long as the house does not exceed an
overall height of 9.5 metres above natural ground level.
Should you raise your home, but not to the required
level, this will trigger a Development Application.
Any raising or restumping of a house will also trigger a
Building Application to a private certifier.
FOR MORE INFORMATION please visit Council’s
website at www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au or contact
Council’s Building & Planning Flood Recovery Team on:
Telephone: 1300 883 699; or
Email: floodrecoveryteam@bundaberg.qld.gov.au
PO Box 3130, Bundaberg QLD 4670
190 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg QLD 4670
ABN 72 427 835 198
T 1300 883 699 F 4150 5410
E floodrecoveryteam@bundaberg.qld.gov.au
W www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au