Flood Reports and Flood Assessments for Ipswich City Council
Ipswich City Council
Ipswich City is one of South East Queensland's fastest growing regions, containing a diverse range of residential, commercial, industrial and rural developments. Significant growth is occurring throughout areas such as Ripley, Springfield, Redbank Plains and surrounding suburbs, resulting in an increasing number of development applications and building approvals requiring flood assessment.
Flood Smart Engineering regularly assists clients throughout Ipswich with flood reports, flood assessments, flood immunity assessments, overland flow assessments and hydraulic modelling. Our experience spans a wide range of projects including residential developments, acreage subdivisions, industrial facilities, commercial developments and infrastructure projects.
Flooding within Ipswich can arise from a variety of sources including river flooding, creek flooding and overland flow. Major waterways such as the Bremer River, Brisbane River, Bundamba Creek and Woogaroo Creek can influence development outcomes and often require careful consideration during the planning and design process. Understanding applicable flood overlays, flood levels and planning scheme requirements early in a project is often critical to maximising development opportunities and achieving council approval.
Our local knowledge and technical expertise has contributed to the successful approval of numerous projects throughout the Ipswich region, helping property owners, developers and consultants navigate flood-related development requirements with confidence.
Ipswich City Council Planning Scheme
Ipswich City Council requires flood assessments when located in the following overlays:
Overland Flow Path
Flood Risk Category Very Low Risk
Flood Risk Category Low Risk
Flood Risk Category Medium Risk
Flood Risk Category High Risk
Flood Risk Category Extreme Risk
These overlays are used as triggers for assessment against the respective overlay codes as part of the Ipswich City Council’s Planning Scheme.
The following interactive map displays all the overlays your property may be affected by: Ipswich City Plan 2025
Steps to Follow
The following steps will assist you in identifying the flood overlays affecting your property:
Go to the Ipswich City Council’s Ipswich City Plan 2025
Search for your property address
In ‘Map Tools’ (right side of the website), under the ‘Overlays’ section, click ‘OV12 Flood Risk and Overland Flow’
Filter through the overlays to your liking
The screenshot below shows the Ipswich City Council Ipswich City Plan 2025 (Interactive mapping system).
Ipswich City Council Ipswich City Plan 2025 (Interactive Mapping System)
Ipswich City Council Historical Flood Information
Ipswich City Council provides additional flood mapping for historical events, including the following:
2022 Event
2011 Event
1974 Event
The Historical Flood Information Map is best used to gain an understanding on previous flooding events and significance.
Steps to Follow
The following steps will assist you in identifying historical flooding affecting your property:
Go to Ipswich City Council’s Historical Flood Information Map
Search for your property address
Under the ‘Map Display’ tab (left side of the website), select a flood event under the ‘Historic Flood’ section
The corresponding flood extent will appear on the map
The screenshot below shows Ipswich City Council’s Historical Flood Information Map.
Ipswich City Council Historical Flood Information Map
To view past and current applications in Ipswich City Council, visit the Development.i page.
A Development Flood Property Report can be purchased from Ipsiwch City Council via the Search Fees and Information page. The Development Flood Property Report provides:
Ground level estimates
Applicable flood overlays
Flood levels, velocities, depths and hazards (for a number of design flood events)
Sources of flooding/inundation
Ipswich City Council does not provide mapping for services and utilities such as stormwater and sewer infrastructure. For more information, please contact us and we can source more detailed information for planning of your development.
Types of Assessments We Provide
These assessments are required by Ipswich City Council to ensure that adverse flood impacts are not created which may negatively affect neighbouring properties, the surrounding area and more.
During this assessment, the construction type and location is usually determined. This may involve altering the surface levels on your property, constructing on a suspended slab or creating flood channels/paths.
Flood Immunity Assessments:
Ipswich City Council requires various types of development to meet various flood immunity requirements so that floor levels are safe during overland flow and flood events.
This usually involves habitable floor levels, non-habitable floor levels, servicing levels and the ability for site occupants to traverse the site without being exposed to flood hazard.
Flood Risk Assessments:
When flooding may impact upon the ability for site occupants to traverse or evacuate a site, flood risk and flood emergency matters are to be addressed.
This usually involves evacuations plans, understanding of flood warning times, flood recovery considerations and more.
Overland flows paths are common throughout Ipswich City Council due to the various elevation changes in topography. Ipswich City Council does not typically provide flood data for overland flow paths. As such, it is important that overland flow assessments are undertaken through our TUFLOW hydraulic models to determine their characteristics and impact upon your property and future development.
At Flood Smart Engineering, we utilise TUFLOW hydraulic models to produce flood levels, velocities, hazards and extents for inundation sources such as overland flow. These models provide site-specific results so that we can focus on increasing development opportunity for your property and gaining council approval through the building application (BA) and development application (DA) phases.
Our experience in Ipswich City Council
Over the years we have worked on a large number and variety of projects in the Ipswich region. The most common development applications we assist with are:
Residential estates and subdivisions
Acerage subdivisions
Industrial facilities
Commercial developments
Schools and community infrastructure
Our local knowledge and expertise has contributed to our understanding of flooding characteristics throughout Ipswich City Council, including flooding associated with the Bremer River, Brisbane River, Bundamba Creek, Woogaroo Creek and surrounding waterways.
Ipswich Suburbs We Commonly Service
At Flood Smart Engineering, we regularly work in the growth areas of Ipswich such as Ripley, Springfield, Redbank Plains and surrounding suburbs.
FAQs
Do I need a flood assessment for my property?
1
If you are located in a flood overlay, you will most likely require a flood assessment to be undertaken. Flooding can be a complex issue and requires a keen eye to identify development opportunity. Please contact us and we can assist you with your property.
What is a Development Flood Property Report
2
The Development Flood Property Report identifies the flood overlays and flood levels affecting your property. Please note that these reports are more specific to river and creek flooding sources.
Can I build in a flood overlay?
3
Flood overlays can be built in as long as compliance with Ipswich City Council’s Planning Scheme is achieved. Some properties have more development potential than others.
What experience do you have in Ipswich City Council?
4
We are involved in a significant number of Ipswich projects which has contributed to our local knowledge. The developments we work on range from rural acreages to commercial warehouses.
Flood report costs vary depending upon the flooding type and complexity. Please contact us and we can prepare a formal proposal for your consideration.
A flood report is usually required for a building application (BA) or development application (DA) in Ipswich City Council. It is best to engage us as early as possible as the flooding component for a development can be crucial in determining engineering design.
How much does a flood report cost?
5
When do I need a flood report?
6
Ipswich City Council requires developments to meet flood immunity requirements. To be flood immune is to be free of/not affected by flooding for a given design flood event. The requirements generally include freeboard (an additional margin/height above the applicable flood level) to ensure adequate safety and consideration to design components.
What is flood immunity?
7
View the other councils we regularly work in.
Brisbane Logan Gold Coast Ipswich Moreton Bay Sunshine Coast Lockyer Valley