What was the flood panel?

In June 2020, the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Department of Transport and Main Roads as representatives of the State of Queensland, jointly established the Independent panel of experts for flood studies in Queensland (the panel).

Five members of the expert panel were appointed:

• Mark Babister, Chair – Managing Director, WMAwater
• Tina O’Connell – Principal Engineer, Hydrology and Hydraulics, HDR
• Ferdinand Diermanse – Expert Researcher, Deltares
• Steve Clark – Managing Director, Water Technology
• Martin Giles – Senior Principal, BMT.

The panel’s focus is investigating whether national and state guidelines, as well as industry best practice, have been applied by ARTC to modelling techniques and outputs to create the existing flood models. The panel will assess four core areas:

• extent
• assumptions
• application
• interpretation.

The panel will also investigate the design of waterway structures in relation to the Inland Rail in a floodplain environment in Queensland.

Managing the work of the panel is the responsibility of the Australian Government and Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. The panel reports to a Joint Working Group comprising of officers from the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. All panel advice, recommendations and deliverables will be reported to the Joint Working Group.

View more details on the panel scope of investigation, and deliverables.