Camping near rivers and it rains

Kev , Why wasn't the building code changed after 1974, and is it going to be looked at in the future in these effected areas?


Cheers Axle.

Axle,

The current QLD Building Act took effect in early 1976.

It does not include provisions in regards to flooding that is the role of the Australian Building Code which from memory states that a dwelling is to be built so that flooding does not enter the property.
This is where some of the problem lies. Some areas have had flood studies done and 1 in 100 year flood levels have been determined and the finished floor level of a dwelling is required to be 300mm above that level or like out here in Chinchilla where we don't have a flood study, I use the highest known flood level and make the finished floor level 300mm above that.

I had great arguements with a property owner early last year in this regard and made them build their house about 1m higher than they wanted too. After this recent flood they had just over 600mm free board under the house. So I saved them the heartache of losing a new house. I am now their best friend LOL but I would have been their worst enemy if I allowed them to build as they wanted. Their Caravan shed wasn't so lucky and had 600mm of water through it, so only minimal damage in the grand scheme of things.

I don't see why things need to change now, just because houses built in flood prone areas have been inundated. That is a risk owners take unless they wish to raise the house height. ( I have 3 already in Chinchilla wanting to raise them) It may seem callious but it is a fact of life.

Capt Bligh has been saying she wants them to be raised but at the same time we are being told to become 6 Star energy efficient for housing. A slab on ground house is the best for energy efficiency ratings. Who is going to foot the bill to raise the houses?

I will be watching to see the findings of the Inquest to see what exactly is going to be changed/recommended.

Cheers Kev

Alot of issues are Planning Policy issues

It will be interesting from state to state, to see if any policies change after all this!, Thanks Kev.



Cheers Axle.

I see these days instead of digging foundations some builders use big blocks of polystyrene, just use bigger ones and the house might even float, then you'd just need a good mooring in flood areas.

I'll just stick with my house on the top of a hill, I should be fine until a 200 metre high tsunami hits southern australia

Nick

Nick,

Have seen a few of those with severe underscoring just from Stormwater runoff.
There was also one with the incorrect concrete depth that had a car jack go through the garage floor, luckily no one was hurt.


Cheers Kev

oh, serious use of the shift - key to give you a lot of _____________


oh, maybe erosion of the foundations....
my garage has a bit of that happening. lucky i didn't get a building inspector for it!!! ;-)

Can't you just imagine the bleating and chest beating from the land developer mob who will be claiming Nanny state etc because it was a one in a million years event etc. Look at the way developers are reacting to the demands for Councils to stop coastal development.

Yep, I think developers' "contributions" have a lot to answer for.

Often they "donate" to both of the major parties.

How true.....

Nothing worse than Koala poop on your tent LOL.

Seriosly though, I have seen perfectly good gum trees drop limbs without any warning.

Good advise blue one.

Drop bears can be as much of a problem as koala poop ;)

Pepper2, if they use vertical posts, they will need to be tall enough to cover the highest tide mark. Quite a few pontoons floating down the Bris River on the news footage didn't meet the flood level and lifted off the pole.

Cheers

Ted