Total Flood Warning Systems
Revised Draft Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy Information
Sheet
The Victorian Government is seeking public feedback on the Revised Draft Victorian Floodplain
Management Strategy.
The proposed policies, actions and accountabilities set the policy direction for floodplain
management in Victoria. A Draft Strategy was released on 26 June 2014 for a six-week
public comment period. Submissions and feedback at public information sessions identified a
number of opportunities to revise the draft Strategy.
The following changes have been incorporated into the Revised Draft Strategy:
 revised rural levee policy
 updates to the chapter relating to stormwater flooding in Melbourne and regional Victoria
 an acknowledgement of the value of Aboriginal communities.
 adapting to climate change to manage flood risk
 clarification around emergency management roles and responsibilities
 guiding principles to support catchment management authority (CMA) role in land use
planning clarification of responsibilities for maintenance of flood warning gauges
 consideration of the environmental benefits of flooding.
This handout sets out the proposals in the Strategy that relate to Aboriginal cultural values and
floodplain management.
The Strategy aims to better prepare Victoria for severe flooding by improving the evaluation and
communication of flood risks. In this way it aims to enable communities and relevant agencies to
take better-informed actions to manage floods.
The Strategy builds on important lessons from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 floods. It also integrates the
outcomes of the subsequent review into the effectiveness of flood warning and response systems,
and the inquiry into flood mitigation infrastructure.
Flood warning services for all Victorians
All Victorian communities receive weather-related warnings such as Flood Watches and Severe
Weather Warnings delivered by BoM. These services provide advice on weather conditions that have
the potential for heavy rainfall and flooding.
BoM’s website also provides near real-time river height data and rainfall data, for most major rivers
at risk of flooding. This information allows people to make their own judgements about the rates of
change and the potential for local consequences during a flood.
All communities receive general safety messages, such as ‘do not drive through floodwaters’ from
VICSES. Everyone also has access to guidance on appropriate flood responses. For example, VICSES
issues FloodSafe guides to support local communities in preparing for and responding to
floods.
Communities with high potential for flood damage receive more sophisticated Total Flood Warning
System (TFWS) services. These can include local predictions about the rise and fall of floodwaters,
details on the roads and properties likely to be inundated, and local advice about how to
prepare for and respond to predicted floods.
Clarifying overall accountabilities for the performance of TFWS services
The 2010-11 floods exposed serious deficiencies with the overall management of Victoria’s TFWS
services.
To rectify this, the Victorian Government has made Department of Environment, Land, Water &
Planning (DELWP) accountable for the coordination of TFWS services at the state level. It is also
accountable for documenting a state-level TFWS service development plan. DELWP will do this in
consultation with VICSES, BoM, Melbourne Water, CMAs, local government, water corporations and
other stakeholders as required.
The TFWS service development plan will be informed by the rolling three-year implementation plans
coming out of the regional floodplain management strategies. In preparing those regional strategies,
the CMAs and Melbourne Water will systematically assess the existing TFWS services provided to the
flood-prone communities in their region. Importantly, they will assess each existing TFWS service
using the state-wide assessment framework currently being developed by DELWP. They will also
systematically assess the TFWS service needs of each flood-prone community.
The CMAs and Melbourne Water will do both these assessments in collaboration with VICSES, BoM,
local councils, water corporations, local communities and other stakeholders. Once they have
completed both assessments, they will identify those TFWSs that need to be developed further.
DELWP will then prioritise these development needs at the state level.
Clarifying accountabilities for each TFWS element
The relevant agencies’ roles and responsibilities in operating and maintaining the service will be as
follows:
Data collection network infrastructure: The river height and rainfall gauging network infrastructure
is maintained through the relevant Regional Water Monitoring Partnership (involving DELWP, local
councils, CMAs or Melbourne Water, and other water corporations). Local councils contribute funds
to the maintenance of those parts of the network whose primary function is to support the TFWS.
DELWP manages the Regional Water Monitoring Partnership contracts and Melbourne Water
manages equivalent contracts.
Flood prediction service maintenance: BoM (outside the Port Phillip and Western Port region) or
Melbourne Water (within the Port Phillip and Western Port region) maintains and funds the
prediction services for the locations defined in the Service Level Specification. Maintenance includes
continually improving prediction techniques. Interpretation (flood mapping): Completion of local
flood studies produce updated flood mapping. DELWP includes updated flood mapping and flood
behaviour information into the flood intelligence platform.
Message construction and dissemination: BoM and Melbourne Water maintain appropriate flood
warning messages and associated dissemination channels for locations noted in the BoM Service
Level Specification for Flood Forecasting and Warning Services. VICSES maintains its dissemination
channels for flood bulletins. DELWP maintains the flood intelligence platform to enable appropriate
information for messages and bulletins to be accessed. Local councils maintain locally specific
dissemination systems.
Flood response planning and community awareness: VICSES maintains flood response plans and
community education material. CMAs and Melbourne Water supply VICSES with any significant
updates of the flood mapping and flood behaviour information
Flash flood warning services
Flash flooding poses a potential threat to life in some of Victoria’s major regional urban centres.
Flash flood warnings centre on a rapid response (less than six hours) to the conditions that might
lead to flooding. The Strategy proposes that:
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CMAs and Melbourne Water (with support from VICSES and local councils) identify areas
where flash flooding poses a risk to life
DELWP and EMV explore the potential to provide flash flood information and warning
services.
DELWP will work with BoM, the Emergency Management Commissioner and VICSES to evaluate the
potential to provide localised neighbourhood-scale flash flood warning services where there is a
history of flash flooding.
Image deleted: Gauge board showing the extent of flooding on the Macalister River at Licola 2011.
Source: DELWP
Proposed Policy 16c
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The CMAs and Melbourne Water, with the support of VICSES and local government
authorities (LGAs), will identify areas with a history of flash flooding and include them in
their regional floodplain management strategies.
Proposed Action 16c
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DELWP will work with the Emergency Management Commissioner to evaluate the potential
to disseminate generalised district-scale flash flood warning services based around BoM’s
existing severe weather warning services, using similar dissemination approaches employed
for bush fire.
DELWP will work with BoM, the Emergency Management Commissioner and VICSES to
evaluate the potential to provide localised neighbourhood scale flash flood warning services
where there is a history of flash flooding.
How to get a copy
Detailed information on Total Flood Warning Systems as well as a range of matters relating to
floodplain management in Victoria can be found in the Revised Draft Victorian Floodplain
Management Strategy, available at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/revised-draft-floodplain-managementstrategy or by calling the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning customer service
centre on 136 186.
List of available information sheets
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Overview of the Revised Draft Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy
Aboriginal cultural values and floodplain management
Land use planning and floodplain management
Insurance and managing flood risks
Environment and floodplain management
Total Flood Warning Systems
Managing levees and waterways in rural areas
Managing levee and waterways in urban areas outside Melbourne
Your chance to have a say
The Victorian Government welcomes feedback on the Revised Draft Victorian Floodplain
Management Strategy. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to
VMFS.Inquiry@delwp.vic.gov.au or sent to:
Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy
PO Box 500
East Melbourne VIC 3002
The closing date for submissions is 8 August 2015.
You need to know:
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The information you provide in your submission, or in any other response, will only be used
by DELWP and the Interdepartmental Stakeholder Reference Group to consider as part of
the development of the final strategy. However, it may be disclosed to other relevant
agencies
as part of the consultation process.
All submissions will be treated as public documents and will also be published on the
internet for public access.
All addresses, phone numbers and email details will be removed before submissions are
published on the internet. Formal requests for confidentiality will be honoured but freedom
of information access requirements will apply to submissions treated as confidential.
If you wish to access information in your submission once it is lodged with DELWP, contact the
project team at the above address.