Floodplain Management Australia
Floodplain Management Australia (FMA) has announced the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) together with Infrastructure NSW as the winner of its 2021 Flood Risk Management Project of the Year Award.
The winning project, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Community Resilience Program, aims to increase and sustain flood resilience in the most flood-exposed area in New South Wales.
The Program includes 19 projects in partnership with government agencies, local councils, emergency services, NGOs, and an education and engagement program for young people and their schools. It also involved 40 project partners and had over 300 participating organisations throughout its multi-channel approach.
FMA President, Ian Dinham, said the FMA NRMA Insurance Excellence Award aims to recognise and promote the invaluable work individuals and organisations do to better prepare their community for floods.
"We're pleased to present NSW SES and Infrastructure NSW with this prestigious award. This project is an exceptional example of how a comprehensive approach which focuses on broad communication and deep engagement can categorically improve the flood awareness and preparedness of local communities," Mr Dinham said.
"It is critical to be proactive with our communities in terms of preparing for natural disasters, especially flood events. Not only will it save millions of dollars in restoration and reconstruction, it will save the lives of many loved ones. Projects like this help make our communities safer."
As the winner of the Excellence Award, the project team will receive $10,000 to continue their important work.
NRMA Insurance Natural Perils Specialist, Andrew Dyer, said recent disasters have highlighted the importance of effective floodplain management initiatives.
"In addition to helping these communities recover, it's critical that we do everything we can to help make them more resilient to the impacts of flooding in the future," Mr Dyer said.
"We're proud to sponsor this award and we congratulate and thank all the individuals and organisations that are dedicated to protecting and supporting the residents of the Hawkesbury-Nepean, and communities across the country."
The winner of the FMA NRMA Insurance Excellence Award was announced at this year's Online FMA National Conference on the 26 May 2021.
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