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Reimagining flood plain development with geography at heart
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Reimagining flood plain development with geography at heart

Barbara A. Rugendyke and Jerome K. Vanclay
Australian geographer, Vol.54(1), pp.1-12
2023

Metrics

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger
#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
#13 Climate Action
#14 Life Below Water
#15 Life on Land

Source: InCites

Abstract

flood mitigation Floodplain development impacts of flooding planning for flood plain management relocation
Claims that the catastrophic flooding events of 2022 which devastated the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales were unprecedented are demonstrated here to be ill-informed. Additionally, flood mitigation efforts will not be able to protect Lismore and surrounding communities from the ravages of future floods. It is essential that geographical realities be at the heart of planning decisions to protect flood prone communities in future. The inescapable fact is that catastrophic floods will recur in the region. The lesson for this region, and for others throughout Australia which are subject to severe flooding, is that planned withdrawal of critical services, commercial premises and vulnerable housing from the flood plain is the only sure way to protect people, their homes and livelihoods from repeated devastation. Geography matters indeed.

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