Analysis Ends Project Paralysis

Inertia’s flood team love a challenge.

But would a landlocked site, with the Brisbane river on one side, a major highway the other and the small matter of being partially located in a citywide waterway corridor be mission impossible?

If we then throw in the fact that nine prior applications for approval had been rejected, the task became one that even Hercules would have baulked at.

But when The Westpoint Auto Group and Ecco Developments asked us to do the seemingly impossible and obtain Development Approval for their new service centre in Jindalee, our flood team got to work.

Emma Clements, Flood Principal, outlined how we took a complete approach to make sure progress could be achieved, “This project had several red flags that would immediately prevent approval unless we could engineer a solution that could satisfy the stringent planning conditions.”

“The site is within FPA1 and 2A with deep flooding (3.5 to 5m) and short flood warning times. The proximity to the Centenary Highway at Jindalee was also a significant challenge; the access to the site had been blocked off dues to its proximity to an existing on-ramp. From an engineering and design solution, we had to ensure that every aspect of our proposed solution could successfully demonstrate that we could overcome the challenges of the site.”

“Our solution involved the design of a new access bridge which would be flood-free to 2% AEP and incorporate a sensor beneath the bridge that would trigger an early warning flood alarm. Emergency access to the site would be through an access point into Pioneer Belz Park in the event of extreme river flooding.”

‘As part of our analysis, we were able to thoroughly map the sites overland flow, analyse all points of flood risk and assess the proposed suspended multi-level building against all conceivable flood scenarios.”

“We were able to use 2d flood modelling to demonstrate that this innovative design would not cause any adverse flood impacts to its surroundings and minimise structural damage on-site during and after a flood event.”

“The result was that we were able to design a solution that achieved flood immunity levels, did not impact on the local stormwater flows, and did not encroach into the citywide waterway corridor.”

“This approach meant that we were able to effectively consult with the local community and Brisbane City Council to demonstrate that using this site was viable, presented minimal risk and would mean that a derelict site could be used beneficially.”

And the result for Westpoint Autos and Ecco Developments was that the development application was approved at the first attempt by Inertia.