LAND USE PLANNING AND RISK: LESSONS FROM THREE AUSTRALIAN PORT CITIES

Transcription

1 LAND USE PLANNING AND RISK: LESSONS FROM THREE AUSTRALIAN PORT CITIES Ken Granger Disaster Risk Scientist Slide No. 1

2 Land use planning is the single most important mitigation measure for limiting future disaster losses in areas of new development. COAG Review, 2002 Slide No. 2

3 Is land use planning really the panacea that the COAG review suggests? Planning schemes impose spatial constraints but not all hazards are spatially limited; Existing land use and infrastructure networks limit development options; Existing land use may contain a wide range of anthropogenic hazards; Planners generally are not disaster risk aware. Slide No. 3

4 Brisbane, Newcastle and Port Adelaide each have a history of major disaster impacts. Slide No. 4

5 Brisbane Major floods in 1841, 1893, 1908 and 1974 Destructive storms including cyclones, east coast lows, severe thunderstorms and tornados 1893 flood 1908 flood 1974 flood Copyright Institute for International Development Ltd 8/13/2007 Slide No. 5

6 Newcastle Major floods in 1832, 1834, 1890s, 1940s, 1955 Damaging earthquakes in 1842, 1868, 1925, 1989 and 1994 Severe storms including east coast lows (1974, 2007), ex-tropical cyclones and severe thunderstorms Slide No. 6

7 Port Adelaide Storm tide inundation 1851, 1865, 1888, 1945, 1965, 1998 etc Damaging earthquakes in 1897, 1902, 1954 Severe frontal storms, thunderstorms and tornados 1865 storm tide 1895 tornado Slide No. 7

8 Brisbane 183 years on Main port facilities Bulk fuel Bulk chemicals Grain terminals Cement General cargo Old wool stores Ship building Slide No. 8

9 Newcastle 208 years on Aluminium smelter Bulk fuel Bulk chemicals Grain terminals Former BHP site Ship building Old wool stores Slide No. 9

10 Port Adelaide 167 years on Power station Outer harbour Ship building Power station Bulk fuel Bulk chemicals Grain terminals Cement works Old wool stores Slide No. 10

11 Each city also has a well established planning scheme. Slide No. 11

12 But do they adequately address the risks posed by all hazards? Case studies reviewed: Inundation Destructive winds and earthquakes Hazardous materials Mobile hazards Slide No. 12

13 Each centre has adopted similar planning strategies to address inundation hazards including: 1% AEP defined flood event 1% AEP defined storm tide event Provision for climate change effects Slide No. 13

14 Some have established differential flood management strategies: 1% AEP for residential, commercial and light industrial 0.5% AEP for emergency shelters, police stations, archives, libraries, substations, etc 0.2% AEP for hospitals, emergency services, power stations & major switch yards, etc Slide No. 14

15 Flood-prone land mapping BRISBANE NEWCASTLE PORT ADELAIDE NFP NFP NFP Slide No. 15

16 The Building Code of Australia is the primary mitigation strategy available for treating destructive wind and earthquake risks to new structures. Slide No. 16

17 Wind speed design zones Planning SA Slide No. 17

18 It s an increasingly hazardous chemical world! Slide No. 18

19 Secondary hazards Slide No. 19

20 Planning regulations governing the siting of most hazardous facilities emphasise environmental rather than community protection. Slide No. 20

21 Slide No. 21

22 Separation distances compared FACILITY WESTERN AUSTRALIA OTHER STATES* Major fuel storage 200 to 1000m 100 to 500m Major chemical storage Up to 3000m 1000m Grain terminal 500m 300m * Victoria, NSW, SA, Queensland AAP photo Slide No. 22

23 Current development and significant hazardous facilities PORT CLOSEST HOUSE HOUSES WITHIN ZONE Brisbane ~460m <10 Newcastle ~175m ~1900 Adelaide ~60m ~2050 Slide No. 23

24 The risks posed by the transport of dangerous goods through developed areas are not adequately covered by the planning process. Matt Hayes photo AAP photo Slide No. 24

25 The choice of route can make a significant difference 2309 dwellings 598 dwellings Slide No. 25

26 The planning hierarchy Integrated Planning Act State Planning Policy 1/03 SEQ Regional Plan Brisbane City Plan Slide No. 26

27 The planning hierarchy #2 BCA Transport Infrastructure Act Integrated Planning Act State Planning Policy 1/03 Coastal Management Act Coastal Management Plan Port Land Use Plan SEQ Regional Plan SEQ Infrastructure Plan Building Act Brisbane City Plan Slide No. 27

28 The regulatory quagmire Commonwealth Legislation BCA OH&S Code ADG Code MHF Standard Local Government Act Disaster Management Act Fire & Rescue Services Act Workplace Health & Safety Act Transport Operations Acts Transport Infrastructure Act Environmental Protection Act Water Act Etc, etc Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act Explosives Act Gas Act Radiation Safety Act Petroleum Act Port Land Use Plan? Brisbane City Plan Slide No. 28

29 Planning is a balancing act Legislation Regulation Standards Plans Codes Existing development $ Slide No. 29

30 So is disaster risk management Legislation Standards Regulation Codes Plans Existing development Slide No. 30

31 CONCLUSION: Land use planning can have only a limited impact on the risks that already exist but can influence the growth of future risks... Slide No. 31

32 ... as long as an holistic, real-world approach is adopted... Slide No. 32

33 ... and officials accept that disaster risk management is an integral part of community governance. Slide No. 33