THE PROBLEM
Current best practice for managing flooding within urban environments applies the concept of minor/major flooding. Minor floods are conveyed by an underground stormwater pipe network or open channels and major floods, when the capacity of the minor system is exceeded, are conveyed in a controlled manner along the street network or dedicated overland flow paths.
Unfortunately, this has not always been the case and urban flooding, particularly flash flooding, remains a significant risk issue for many of Australia’s urban population centres. The capacity of these existing systems is being further stretched by the intensification of development such the conversion of urban single-house lots into unit developments.
