Flooding Hazards Mapping Update Code Amendment approved

The Minister for Planning has adopted the Flooding Hazards Mapping Update Code Amendment – the first step in a wider project to introduce new and updated flood hazard mapping into SA’s Planning and Design Code.

It is important for the Code to correctly identify areas vulnerable to flood in order to minimise potential impacts to people, property, infrastructure and the natural environment.

The Code’s planning policies aim to restrict new development in high-risk flood areas and encourage suitable design responses in lower risk areas. These policies are applied in the Code via ‘overlays’.

The Flooding Hazards Mapping Update Code Amendment is focused exclusively on the extent of the ‘Hazards (Flooding – Evidence Required) Overlay’ in the Code.

This Code Amendment will:

• reduce the extent of Hazards (Flooding - Evidence Required) Overlay in 13 local government areas and several Outback Areas where more recent flood hazard mapping has demonstrated that there is minimal risk of flooding; and

• apply the Hazards (Flooding - Evidence Required) Overlay to a portion of the Port Adelaide Enfield Council area, as a precaution, where the level of flood hazard has not yet been determined and until new flood hazard mapping can be implemented in future stages of the wider project.

Further information about this Code Amendment including a copy of the final approved Code Amendment and the Engagement Report can be found on the PlanSA portal.

This Code Amendment is the first step in a three-stage Flood Hazard Mapping and Assessment Project being undertaken to deliver more consistent and contemporary mapping of riverine and flash flood hazards across South Australia.

The project will involve the use of new technology to deliver new and enhanced flood studies which will cover a range of flood events. The final stage of the project, which is expected to go on public consultation later this year, will involve the introduction of new flood mapping across the entire State.