FAQs

 

 

Who was involved?

The project was initiated by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) and the Central Coastal Board (CCB). Four municipalities assisted by offering specific case study areas. They were the cities of Kingston, Melbourne and Port Phillip and the Mornington Peninsula Shire. Other parties involved in the project are: Melbourne Water, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) and the Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR).

 

How was the project funded?

The project partners (MAV, ABM and CCB) successfully approached the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) for funding.

 

What was the role of the project control group and project steering committee?

The project control group comprised the MAV, ABM and CCB. The wider steering committee comprised the MAV, ABM, CCB, the participating councils (the cities of Kingston, Melbourne and Port Phillip and Mornington Peninsula Shire), DCCEE, DCPD, Melbourne Water, DSE, and VCCCAR.

 

How were the case study areas chosen?

Co-operation from ABM member councils was sought to find a range of flood-prone areas against which a decision-making framework could be developed and tested. The municipalities of Kingston, Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and Port Phillip offered five areas which had distinctly different characteristics. This allowed the researchers to test their work across a range of very different circumstances.

 

What is a pathway?

Pathway means a grouped-range of flood mitigation options. In the project, each identified pathway was costed and compared. Pathways were identified through co-operation by the consultants, the relevant council and relevant state authorities.

 

What is adaption?

Adaptation means taking measures to reduce the impact of flooding.

 

Where did the data come from?

The study used data provided by Melbourne Water and the participating municipalities.

 

How was the economic modelling conducted?

The consultants assessed the economic value of the case study area (both now and in the future) and then looked at the cost of flood damage. A number of adaptation pathways were also costed (both in today's and future dollars). A series of economic modelling exercises were conducted and the results were analysed. For further details, go to the Cost benefit analysis page or download the full report.

 

What were the assumptions and limitations?

The consultants worked within the technical constraints of the available data. Before forming a view on what the research outcomes mean for any particular case study, it is important to fully understand the constraints within which the research was conducted. See Assumptions and Limitations for further information.

 

How do you determine which pathway is preferred?

The research provided preferred options based on purely economic analysis. The project recognises that the analysis provides just one of many inputs into the decision-making process. Decisions can be better informed by the findings of the research, but any final decisions will depend on numerous other factors and considerations.

 

What has the project achieved?

The project has resulted in decision-makers having a better understanding of economic modelling when assessing the benefits of various options which could prevent future flooding. The project has also brought the various responsible authorities and the municipal councils closer together. It is hoped that future roles and responsibilities can be more clearly defined.

 

What does it mean for the community?

The research has been a first step towards getting a better understanding of the best ways to protect the community from flooding. It has given decision-makers a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of economic modelling and it has brought the various government agencies together so they can work more co-operatively together in the future.

 

Where can I get more information?

The report and case studies are available for download on this website. The main report can be downloaded here and see the various case study sections of this website. Some of the case study sections also include links to relevant pages of the websites of the participating councils. More general information on flooding can be found at Melbourne Water's (www.melbournewater.com.au) website as well as at DSE (www.dse.vic.gov.au) and VCCCAR (www.vcccar.org.au).

 

What happens next?

The project partners will continue to work together to take adaptation pathway research to the next level in the future.