Chapter 9: Risk management

Managing flood risk is a balance between the inherent risks of occupying the floodplain and the willingness of the community to accept adverse flood impacts for the benefits of living in the floodplain. Knowing the consequences of the full range of flooding can inform decisions about managing risk to the existing community and limiting the growth of risk resulting from new development into the future.

The nature of flood behaviour and the exposure of the community to flooding varies greatly between and within catchments and communities. How best to manage risk will vary with flood behaviour, location, the vulnerability and exposure of the community to flooding and the tools available to manage risk. No single approach to managing flood risk can work for all communities and in all flood environments.