Building Flood Resilience

The Cairns region is a beautiful, tropical area that faces vulnerability to natural disasters. With mountains to the west and large catchments supporting rivers, creeks, and low-lying coastal areas, many residents are likely to experience flooding in their lifetime.

Each year, Cairns experiences flash flooding, where water levels rise rapidly in drains, creeks, and rivers. Flooding can also be localised, affecting some suburbs while leaving others dry. The Building for Flood Resilience guide is designed to assist you in making informed decisions for better flood resilience as you rebuild, retrofit, or design a new home or business.

Cairns Regional Council is committed to ensuring our communities are aware, prepared, and capable of enhancing their resilience to future storm and flood events. Increasing your flood resilience involves altering the way you rebuild or retrofit, potentially reducing damage in future floods. While it may not be possible to completely avoid flooding in some areas, we can implement flood-resilient design and materials to minimise disruption to life and work during and after a flood event.

Don't just replace 'like for like.' A flood-resilient building doesn't have to be expensive; it's all about making smart choices.