Burnett River and Tributaries Catchment Flood Study

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The Burnett River is located in the Wide Bay – Burnett region and has a catchment area of about 33,000 square kilometres that spans across six different local government areas. Major flooding in the Burnett River is relatively infrequent, however, under meteorological conditions, heavy rainfalls can result in significant floods. These floods can cause considerable impacts to townships and rural areas along the Burnett River and its major tributaries. During the major flood event of January 2013, significant flooding throughout the Burnett River catchment impacted homes, infrastructure and agricultural land.

The Australian Queensland Government, via the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), is funding a catchment wide flood study of the Burnett River and its major tributaries - the Burnett River and Tributaries Catchment Flood Study (the Flood Study).

The Burnett Catchment Council’s Working Group (comprising Bundaberg Regional, North Burnett Regional, South Burnett Regional, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire, and Gympie Regional Councils) has been established and the group is working together with AECOM Australia Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading engineering Consultants, who have been engaged to deliver the Flood Study.

The purpose of the Flood Study is to provide all Councils with a better understanding of flood behaviour throughout the Burnett River catchment which, in the future, can be used to improve flood management and response and provide up-to-date information for land-use and infrastructure planning.

The Flood Study will be carried out over two years and our Project Team will be consulting with the community over the following three phases of the Flood Study.

Note: Timelines are indicative only and are subject to change

What does this mean for Bundaberg Regional Council?

Flood studies need to be regularly updated or completed to account for changes in the landscape, evolving policies, new technology, new data, and recent flood events. This Flood Study will provide Bundaberg Regional Council with the opportunity to update the existing historical flood information database in addition to the Lower Burnett River Flood Study which was completed in 2013.

How to become involved?

The Flood Study is currently in Phase 2 - Model Development.

Using the data collected from Phase 1, we’ve created new flood models of the Burnett River. Now, we need to make sure that the models can predict floods accurately. We do this by comparing the model’s predictions with what actually happened in past flood events.

From the models, we’ve prepared flood maps which show past Burnett River floods, like the one in January 2013. To confirm these flood maps accurately represent what happened, we need your help!

Do the flood maps match what happened? Help us get it right.

You can view Bundaberg Regional Council’s existing historical flood information in the following map. Information is displayed in layers, which can be turned on and off using the >> button in the top lefthand corner.



There are multiple ways that you can explore the flood maps of past Burnett River floods and provide feedback:

1. Online Submission


You can make an online submission by scanning the QR code above or by heading to our dedicated Burnett River and Tributaries Catchment Flood Study webpage at https://anz.planengage.com/burnettriver.


On the webpage, select the "Provide Feedback" button to make your submission.

You will be able to make submissions from Monday, 21 April 2025 until Friday, 16 May 2025 at 5:00 PM (Brisbane time).


2. Open Community Consultation Session

If you would like to talk to the project team and provide your feedback in-person, we encourage you to attend our Open Community Consultation Session.

Where: Civic Centre Supper Room, 190 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg Central

When: Friday, 2 May 2025, 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM


Support

If you have been flooded before, and are still experiencing emotional stress and need support, contact:

  • Phone Lifeline’s crisis hotline on 13 11 14
  • Phone Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
  • Phone Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349
  • If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, call 13 YARN

The Burnett River is located in the Wide Bay – Burnett region and has a catchment area of about 33,000 square kilometres that spans across six different local government areas. Major flooding in the Burnett River is relatively infrequent, however, under meteorological conditions, heavy rainfalls can result in significant floods. These floods can cause considerable impacts to townships and rural areas along the Burnett River and its major tributaries. During the major flood event of January 2013, significant flooding throughout the Burnett River catchment impacted homes, infrastructure and agricultural land.

The Australian Queensland Government, via the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), is funding a catchment wide flood study of the Burnett River and its major tributaries - the Burnett River and Tributaries Catchment Flood Study (the Flood Study).

The Burnett Catchment Council’s Working Group (comprising Bundaberg Regional, North Burnett Regional, South Burnett Regional, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire, and Gympie Regional Councils) has been established and the group is working together with AECOM Australia Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading engineering Consultants, who have been engaged to deliver the Flood Study.

The purpose of the Flood Study is to provide all Councils with a better understanding of flood behaviour throughout the Burnett River catchment which, in the future, can be used to improve flood management and response and provide up-to-date information for land-use and infrastructure planning.

The Flood Study will be carried out over two years and our Project Team will be consulting with the community over the following three phases of the Flood Study.

Note: Timelines are indicative only and are subject to change

What does this mean for Bundaberg Regional Council?

Flood studies need to be regularly updated or completed to account for changes in the landscape, evolving policies, new technology, new data, and recent flood events. This Flood Study will provide Bundaberg Regional Council with the opportunity to update the existing historical flood information database in addition to the Lower Burnett River Flood Study which was completed in 2013.

How to become involved?

The Flood Study is currently in Phase 2 - Model Development.

Using the data collected from Phase 1, we’ve created new flood models of the Burnett River. Now, we need to make sure that the models can predict floods accurately. We do this by comparing the model’s predictions with what actually happened in past flood events.

From the models, we’ve prepared flood maps which show past Burnett River floods, like the one in January 2013. To confirm these flood maps accurately represent what happened, we need your help!

Do the flood maps match what happened? Help us get it right.

You can view Bundaberg Regional Council’s existing historical flood information in the following map. Information is displayed in layers, which can be turned on and off using the >> button in the top lefthand corner.



There are multiple ways that you can explore the flood maps of past Burnett River floods and provide feedback:

1. Online Submission


You can make an online submission by scanning the QR code above or by heading to our dedicated Burnett River and Tributaries Catchment Flood Study webpage at https://anz.planengage.com/burnettriver.


On the webpage, select the "Provide Feedback" button to make your submission.

You will be able to make submissions from Monday, 21 April 2025 until Friday, 16 May 2025 at 5:00 PM (Brisbane time).


2. Open Community Consultation Session

If you would like to talk to the project team and provide your feedback in-person, we encourage you to attend our Open Community Consultation Session.

Where: Civic Centre Supper Room, 190 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg Central

When: Friday, 2 May 2025, 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM


Support

If you have been flooded before, and are still experiencing emotional stress and need support, contact:

  • Phone Lifeline’s crisis hotline on 13 11 14
  • Phone Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
  • Phone Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349
  • If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, call 13 YARN
Page last updated: 15 Apr 2025, 11:44 AM