Flood map fills the gaps

Logan City council has added missing segments to its controversial flood map.

Flood risks in parts of Logan, including multiple creek catchments across the city, was previously listed as “unknown”.

Prior to the updates, development applications within catchments like Windaroo, Belivah and Upper Oxley Creek required applicants to conduct individualised flood studies to assess potential risks.

Mayor Jon Raven said council was committed to obtaining “the most detailed mapping of potential flood risk” across the city.

“This information is important when it comes to understanding the flood-risk in your area,” Cr Raven said.

“We hope this latest information will help residents plan more confidently to improve the flood resilience of their properties.

“I also urge the insurance industry to properly consider the risk identified in these maps and not sting people for unreasonable premiums during a cost-of-living crisis.”

Cr Raven called for an inquiry into insurance price-gouging before this year’s election and spoke before a federal inquiry as mayor last month.

In February, he said some properties in Logan with a 1 in 2000 annual chance of being flooded – very low risk – had their premiums increased by 400 per cent.

At the federal inquiry into insurers’ responses to claims arising from the 2022 floods, Cr Raven said the insurance industry needed to share the methodologies used to calculate premiums and show greater transparency on how risk is priced into policies.

“The challenges posed by the 2022 major floods underscored the need for systemic change in how we approach insurance coverage in flood prone areas,” Cr Raven said.

Earlier this year, Cr Scott Bannan claimed the premium for one resident in his division rose from $3500 to $35,000 since the newest mapping data was released.

Under state government orders, the mapping now considers factors like climate change, isolation and access to critical services to create a risk-based approach ranging from “very low” to “high” risk.

Thousands of properties never impacted by flood water were suddenly deemed at risk.

Cr Raven recently said it was “very hard to challenge the data” underpinning the modelling, but admitted the mapping was a “work in progress”.

Catchment studies like the ones added to the city’s mapping last week are conducted by independent hydrologists and other industry experts.

Council said “work in that area is still ongoing”.

“Flood risk information and mapping for other parts of the city has not changed at this time but may change in future as further studies are completed,” a council statement said.

All Logan residents can access the flood mapping at flood.logan.qld.gov.au.

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