Chapter 9: Adaptive Flood Risk Management for Sustainable Development: A Case Study from Australia’s Hunter Region

Purpose: This chapter draws from a research project that explored floods in the Hunter Region, Australia, in relationship to sustainable development goal (SDG) 13 and adaptive capacity for flood risk management, with the aim of finding ways of improving community resilience. It focuses on two local government areas (LGAs), Cessnock and Singleton, in the Hunter Region, which were selected due to recent and ongoing flood events impacting the areas.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology included a literature review and a series of interviews with stakeholders in the LGAs, with a resultant thematic analysis. The preliminary findings were then presented at a workshop, and the participants’ ideas were incorporated into the research results.

Findings: The study identified barriers to the implementation of SDG 13, including the lack of evidence on the best approaches for adaptive flood risk management at the local level; limited knowledge on capacity for SDGs implementation; and limited indicators for the local government level in the 2030 Agenda. The interviews indicated the different risks of the region and rapid urban development that may lead to more severe future flood impacts. Additionally, the need for a community-centred approach and multi-agency collaboration was evident.

Practical Implications: Recommendations of the project pointed to the need for identifying existing community resilience and gaps; reviewing early warning systems; the importance of SDG localisation; including public consultation and participation in implementation of SDG 13; reporting processes incorporating SDG 13 across all levels; and ensuring that disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation are integrated.