Ipswich has been selected to be part of a national project to develop the first-ever Australian guidelines on nature-based solutions for flood mitigation and resilience.

This project builds on the extensive floodplain management work undertaken by council in the Ipswich Integrated Catchment Plan, which identified a strong case for nature-based solutions.

The ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS) are partnering with council and the Ipswich community on this project focused on the Bremer catchment.

Together we will further examine innovative and practical nature-based solutions to reduce the impact of flooding, understand a range of co-benefits, and discover opportunities for implementation.

Nature-based solutions for Ipswich

Based on expert and community feedback, and detailed technical investigations, the ICEDS team have proposed for consideration a range of nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding in Ipswich's Bremer Catchment.

Collectively, these measures aim to create a 'spongy catchment' approach that could have significant benefits, not only in terms of reducing flood impacts both locally and downstream, but also strong ecological and community benefits.

Read more in the Ipswich community update November 2024

Key findings

  • Creating a 'spongy catchment'

    The clearing of vegetation, and the hard surfaces of urban areas, greatly reduce the ability of the landscape to slow and absorb water. This can worsen the impacts of a flood as both the amount and speed of water is greatly increased.

    A spongy catchment holds and absorbs water well, often through the natural processes of a well-vegetated landscape. This can reduce runoff and flood impacts as well as provide wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, erosion control and community benefits.

  • What is being assessed for Ipswich

    Based on expert and community feedback, and detailed technical investigations, a range of nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding in Ipswich's Bremer Catchment have been proposed.

    Initial investigations include:

    • revegetation of key riverbanks
    • leaky weirs or bunds
    • reforesting key areas
    • urban green solutions.

    Any future implementation would depend on further planning and design, as well as budget requirements.

  • Potential benefits for flood mitigation

    The focus of these proposed measures is to provide nature-based solutions for reducing flood impacts.

    Initial modelling suggests the proposed solutions for Ipswich could provide benefits, individually and collectively.

    This includes reducing the impact of frequent but minor floods, as well as less frequent major floods, in the Bremer Catchment.

    More detailed information on the initial flood modelling is in the Ipswich community update November 2024.

    Read the update 

ICEDS in partnership with Ipswich City Council will be focusing on the Bremer River Catchment area.

Source: Waterway Health Strategy