An application of Integrated Water Resource Management principles to flood risk mitigation in Mossman, North Queensland, Australia

• Author: Giang N. Dinh,Brian S. McIntosh
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wwp2.12011
• Published date: 01 November 2019
• Date: 01 November 2019

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wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/wwp2 World Water Policy. 2019;5:138–160.

© 2019 Policy Studies Organization.

Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DOI: 10.1002/wwp2.12011

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

An application of Integrated Water Resource

Management principles to flood risk mitigation in

Mossman, North Queensland, Australia

Giang N.Dinh1

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Brian S.McIntosh2

1The University of Queensland, Brisbane,

Australia

2International WaterCentre,Griffith

University Nathan campus, Nathan,

Australia

Correspondence

Giang N. Dinh, Trung Liet, Dong Da,

Hanoi, Vietnam.

Email: dinhngocgiang04@gmail.com

Funding information

University of Queensland

Abstract

As the economic and political center of Douglas Shire in

Far North Queensland, Australia, the Mossman Township

plays an important role in the development of the region.

To allow for the economic and population growth of the

town, the local authority has developed strategies to expand

the residential and industrial zones closer to the Mossman

River. However, these areas are frequently affected by flu-

vial floods that are exacerbated by the confluence of the two

Mossman tributaries, South and North. In addition, the fre-

quency and intensity of floods is likely to increase under

the impact of climate change. To minimize flood risk in

this area, the State and Local Governments have a coordi-

nated approach to implement measures to address the issue.

However, these measures have limitations and it is difficult

to achieve all of their intended objectives.

To support the Mossman authorities in improving flood re-

silience, this study combined the principles of Integrated Water

Resources Management and Flood Risk Management to identify

and assess measures to achieve flood risk mitigation. This study

proposes a range of measures that may enable the region to re-

duce the exposure and vulnerability of the affected population to

flood hazard. Subsequently, these measures were evaluated from

different perspectives including risk index, financial cost, and the

environmental and social impact of each.

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DINH aND MCINTOSH

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INTRODUCTION

Humans have sought measures to control floods using dams or levees for at least 2,700years (Kidder

& Liu, 2014). However, with changing perceptions in relation to economic, social, and environmental

values, people are becoming increasingly aware of the negative impacts that these traditional measures

can have on the natural environment and society (Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, 2005). In line with

this understanding, new measures have been developed, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Utilizing the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), this work developed and

applied a process for selecting and evaluating flood risk mitigation measures. By doing so, the study con-

tributes to not only reducing flood risk but also balancing economic, social, and environmental values.

The IWRM has been defined as “a process which promotes the coordinated development and man-

agement of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social

welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” (Global

Water Partnership Technical Advisory Committee, 2000).

The application of the principles of IWRM in this study aims to:

• Gather evidence on diverse options for solving flood‐related problems, including structural and

nonstructural measures and mitigating the exposure and vulnerability of people and assets to flood

hazard; and

By using a new methodology for flood risk assessment that con-

siders exposure, vulnerability, and tolerance of the community to

flood risk, this study determined that the current flood risk level in

Mossman is high. To reduce the high‐risk level to low, three meas-

ures were proposed: land use change, the construction of flood lev-

ees, and a flood forecasting and warning system. The study found

that the implementation of each measure alone does not minimize

flood risk effectively, especially within important zones such as

residential areas, the town center, and critical roads. It was also

found that relying on just one measure impacts the economic, so-

cial, or environmental conditions of the study area significantly.

The simultaneous implementation of three measures is, therefore,

perceived to be necessary. The combination of measures deter-

mined by using Integrated Water Resources Management princi-

ples enables the region to mitigate flood risk effectively, and also

provides an opportunity to balance benefits and cost economically,

environmentally, and socially.

KEYWORDS

flood, flood exposure, flood forecasting, flood hazard, flood levee, flood

risk mitigation, flood tolerance, flood vulnerability, flood warning,

integrated water resources management, IWRM, land use change