Rebuilding after the flood

Rebuilding after the floods imageBrisbane City Council is providing advice and assistance to help residents restore properties affected by the January 2011 flood. Council is also offering free advice for the next two years for flood-affected property owners who want to make changes to protect their homes from flooding.

If you own your property, you may also consider making modifications as part of your future flood plan. If so, it is important to understand building in accordance with the interim flood levels (TLPI).

If you are considering modifying your building, ensure you:

Find out about:

Raising the height of your house

Council has put in place a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) 01/11 - Brisbane Interim Flood Response for flood-affected areas of Brisbane. These rules will guide building and rebuilding following the January 2011 Brisbane River flood.

Rebuilding your house

If you are rebuilding your house to its original state, you are able to proceed without Council approval. If you want to make improvements to your house which change its original state, you may need a development approval from Council. This could apply to heritage-listed properties, houses within a Demolition Control Precinct, or houses on a small lot.

For more information, download the factsheet advice for residents - approvals for repairing, renovating or rebuilding flood-affected houses (PDF - 222kb).

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Discounts are available on application fees for some flood-affected properties. Check with Council to see if you are eligible. Council will also try to fast-track any flood-related applications.

Building approvals may be required for works such as retaining walls, swimming pools and pool fences. For more information and advice on building approvals, visit the Building Services Authority (BSA) website.

Advice and approvals for business premises

Flood-affected businesses can get advice about approvals required to repair a premises or operate from a temporary premises, by downloading the factsheet Approvals for operating from temporary premises and repairs to flood-affected buildings (PDF - 188kb). 

Restoring or replacing a private pontoon

In many places, the banks of the river are damaged or unstable following the flood. This may prevent safe moorings for pontoons until river banks are stabilised. It is important to seek the advice of an engineer about your pontoon, as standards may change as a result of the flood.

Residents with pontoons that have been damaged during the flood may need Council approval to repair or replace their pontoon. Generally, if your pontoon can be repaired and you have a previous Prescribed Tidal Works (PTW) approval or Section 86 Harbours Act (s86) approval, you can repair your pontoon consistent with these and within the same site area without additional approvals. You will be required to provide Council with certification from a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) qualified engineer once you have completed the works.

A PTW approval will be required if you:

  • are not replacing your pontoon like-for-like
  • need to move the location of your pontoon on a temporary basis
  • want to rebuild a permanent pontoon structure in a different location

Council will provide free pre-lodgement advice for people wanting to upgrade pontoon facilities and endeavour to fast-track these applications.

For more information, download the fact sheet restoring or replacing private pontoons following January 2011 flood event (PDF - 259kb).

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Restoring your swimming pool

If your pool or pool area was damaged during the January 2011 floods, you will need to secure the area, or make it safe until you can seek professional advice. It is important you do not remove water from your in-ground pool as this may cause more structural damage than leaving the pool full. Removing water from the pool may cause the pool shell to pop out of the ground. This is the case with both fibreglass and concrete shells. Without the weight of the pool water the shell may only rise a small amount, but this may be enough to damage the pipe work and the pool shell itself.

It is strongly recommended that you seek advice from your pool supply shop before starting any treatment or cleaning.

If your pool fencing has been damaged or debris has made the pool area dangerous, you will need to secure or restrict access to the area in order to make it safe.

For more information, download the fact sheet restoring your swimming pool (PDF - 171kb).

It is the responsibility of the property owners with pools to ensure that compliant barriers are in place at all times. For more information, refer to swimming pool safety regulations.

Hazardous waste and asbestos 

Residents in flood-affected areas who want to dispose of hazardous materials need to phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to arrange collection. Do not place hazardous material on the kerbside, in any skips and do not take it to a transfer stations.

If you find a leaking container of chemicals, a leaking gas cylinder or some other chemical container that looks dangerous, do not handle it. Keep clear and phone 000 (triple zero) as soon as possible.

Where it is safe to do so, containers of hazardous materials should only be picked up using gloves.

If you find a punctured or damaged gas cylinder you should:

  • handle it with care
  • ensure that the cylinder is upright to allow for venting
  • secure the cylinders as much as possible to prevent movement or further damage
  • not allow them to fall upon one another

If you find large or heavy drums or containers, leave them where they are and phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to have them removed.

When cleaning up in flood-affected areas, avoid handling materials that may contain asbestos. If possible, keep the materials wet and covered in plastic. Do not put materials suspected of containing asbestos into rubbish bins or with items for kerbside collection. Phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to organise collection. 

Noise restrictions when rebuilding

Residents are asked to be respectful of neighbours and mindful of noise regulations when carrying out rebuilding work. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, builders and contractors must not carry out building work in a way that makes an audible noise:

  • before 6.30am or after 6.30pm Monday - Saturday  
  • at any time on a Sunday or public holiday

There are also noise regulations for the use of devices such as generators, compressors, grass-cutters, leaf-blowers and power tools. These devices cannot be operated in a way that makes an audible noise:

  • before 7am or after 7pm Monday - Saturday
  • before 8am or after 7pm on a Sunday or public holiday 

For more information, visit the Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website.

More information

For more information:

Related information Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel Building Services Authority
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Last modified: 23 Feb 2012 12:21