HOW AND WHY FLOOD MAP WAS CREATED

April 2015: The Gold Coast City Council’s new City Plan is sent to Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s office.

November 2015: The Government, after consulting with climate strategists, works on an 80cm sea level rise. A pilot study of the impact on development, begun in Townsville, is looked at as the Gold Coast City Council revisits its flood modelling.

January 2018: Concerned planners write to State Development Minister Cameron Dick to stop the council introducing flood planning amendments. Residential development would be prevented on elevated podiums in flood-affected areas.

February 2018: Council submits its major update to its City Plan to Mr Dick. The changes are based on the 80cm increase in a Q100 level – in other words, a one-in-ahundred-years flood. But it also includes the latest rainfall estimates.

March 2018: Planners write again to Mr Dick. They are concerned about council’s new set of flood overlay maps released on its web page. He is urged to direct council to abandon the plans and consult residents.

July 13, 2018: The Bulletin reveals the impact of the flood overlay mapping. A Helensvale resident is quoted almost $30,000 for flood insurance.

July 25, 2018: The Bulletin in a report details the lengthy submission to Mr Dick. Flood mapping could put future stages of light rail at risk and drive up the home insurance premiums. The LNP at an Estimates hearing tables the Bulletin report and asks if the State Development Department is confident of the modelling and advice to council. The question is rejected as “hypothetical’’ and “opinion”.