Brisbane Flood Map: How to Check Your Property's Flood Risk
Brisbane City Council publishes two official flood tools, and knowing what each one does helps you read your property's flood risk correctly.
The Flood Awareness Map, at fam.brisbane.qld.gov.au, is a free, easy-to-use map that gives general flood-awareness information for an address, lot or suburb, including any local history of flooding. It is the right starting point for understanding a property's flood context.
The FloodWise Property Report is a technical report for building and development. It covers the four types of flooding experienced in Brisbane - river, creek, overland flow and storm tide - and is based on the latest adopted flood planning information in Brisbane City Plan 2014.
For building or development, City Plan 2014 sets Defined Flood Planning Areas and a Flood Overlay Code that guides development on flood-affected land. Where a site sits within a Flood Planning Area, the design of a development is assessed against that code - the point where the information on a report becomes real design decisions.
A map or report tells you whether a site is flood-affected and by which source. It will not tell you how a specific building will perform, what floor levels a proposal needs, or how overland flow moves across your particular block. A flood engineer can assess those site-specific issues and provide the modelling or design advice needed to address the relevant Council requirements.
It is worth involving a flood engineer when you are buying and want certainty about a flood-affected site, lodging a development application on land in a Flood Planning Area, or resolving a flood-related requirement from Council. CWD Group works across Brisbane and South-East Queensland - get a quote and we will tell you what is involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my Brisbane property floods?
Use Council's Flood Awareness Map at fam.brisbane.qld.gov.au for general flood-awareness information, and request a FloodWise Property Report for the technical flood information used in building and development.
What is the difference between the Flood Awareness Map and a FloodWise Property Report?
The Flood Awareness Map gives general awareness information for an address or suburb. The FloodWise Property Report is a technical report for building and development that covers river, creek, overland flow and storm tide, based on Brisbane City Plan 2014.
Is the flood map enough for a development application?
It is a starting point, not the whole answer. Where a site is in a Defined Flood Planning Area, development is assessed against the Flood Overlay Code in City Plan 2014, which usually calls for a flood engineer's assessment rather than the map alone.
Can I build on a flood-affected block in Brisbane?
Often yes. Being flood-affected usually means the design has to account for flooding, not that you cannot build. A flood engineer can advise on the design response for your site.