Rainfall run-off and its impacts vary considerably depending on factors such as the extent of rainfall and its intensity, as well as the catchment topography and land use. Run-off that replenishes our water supplies is highly valued. However most rainfall run-off from our towns and cities must be managed to meet safety and convenience expectations while also protecting the environment. Larger amounts of run-off cause flood flows that may damage property, infrastructure and livelihoods, and threaten lives.

NRW’s activities in flood risk and stormwater management include publishing and maintaining the Queensland Urban Drainage Manual, policy development, technical support for flood mitigation subsidy programs, participation on flood study steering committees, and assisting with the administration of SPP1/03.

Stormwater management publications

Queensland Urban Drainage Manual

The Queensland Urban Drainage Manual is published as a joint venture of the Department of Natural Resources and Water, the Queensland Division of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, and the Brisbane City Council.

The purpose of the manual, which deals primarily with the hydrology/hydraulics of drainage systems, is to provide local governments and stormwater professionals with a standardised approach for planning and designing urban stormwater drainage.

The manual has traditionally dealt mainly with passing run-off through and away from urbanised areas to meet flood mitigation, public safety and convenience objectives. However, as the impacts of stormwater on the environment, and the need to manage stormwater as an integral part of the urban water cycle are now widely recognised, the latest edition of the manual considers these issues and provides guidance in addressing them during system planning and design. The manual also now highlights the comprehensive planning approach necessary if best practice is to be achieved.

This manual has been provided split in sections to enable faster download and as a complete PDF to facilitate printing.

• Preface, Amendments to volume 2, Symbols and abbreviations (PDF, 321 kB)*
• Introduction (PDF, 495 kB)*
• Stormwater planning and Legal aspects (PDF, 400 kB)*
• Catchment hydrology (PDF, 579 kB)*
• Detention/retention systems and Computer models (PDF, 404 kB)*
• Urban drainage (part 1) (PDF, 329 kB)*
• Urban drainage (part 2) (PDF, 377 kB)*
• Urban drainage (part 3) (PDF, 427 kB)*
• Urban drainage (part 4) (PDF, 539 kB)*
• Stormwater outlets (PDF, 434 kB)*
• Open channel hydraulics (PDF,472 kB)*
• Waterway crossings (PDF, 364 kB)*
• Environmental considerations (PDF, 375 kB)*
• Safety aspects (PDF, 347 kB)*
• Miscellaneous matters (PDF, 242 kB)*

Complete report with higher quality images

Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (PDF, 5.5 MB)*

Users should note that as only the updated Volume 1 of the manual is currently available over the internet, and a new edition of Volume 2 has not yet been prepared, they should continue to refer to the 1992 edition of Volume 2. The new edition of Volume 1 does, however, include some amendments to a number of the design charts and tables to Volume 2 (see 'Amendments to Volume 2' of the new Volume 1).

The department also plans to publish the manual on CD once Volume 2 has been updated with the amendments mentioned above. Please check this website for information on the availability of the CD.

If you have any queries, suggestions or comments, please:

• email Queensland Urban Drainage Manual

or

• phone (07) 3239 3226.

Flood management publications

Guidance on the assessment of tangible flood damages (2002)

This bulletin aims to assist applicants to the Regional Flood Mitigation Program to assess tangible flood damages (i.e. those that can be estimated in dollars). The focus is on how to estimate the value of potential physical damage caused to property and infrastructure exposed to flood inundation within an urban environment. The common methods and approaches adopted for estimating flood damages, and the conversion of those estimates to an average annual damage figure necessary for cost/benefits calculations, are explained.

• Guidance on the assessment of tangible flood damages (PDF, 121 kB)*

Floodplain management in Australia: best practice principles and guidelines (2000)

This document aims to provide a set of best practice principles and guidelines for the management of the risks associated with flooding across the floodplains of Australia.  The principles define the context of floodplain management and the guidelines develop the principles further and deal with practical issues that should be considered as part of the floodplain management process.

To obtain a copy of this publication please contact CSIRO Publishing.

If you have difficulty downloading any of these PDF documents please contact:

Office of the Water Supply Regulator
GPO Box 2454
Brisbane 4001
Email: Office of the Water Supply Regulator

*Requires Acrobat Reader