2022-09-06 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   6 SEPTEMBER 2022




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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                            6 SEPTEMBER 2022

               5.0.   DES Perspective - Team Leader Waste Development and Southeast Compliance
                      Officer

               Existing requirements are in place under the Coastal Protection and Management Regulation
               (CPMR) 2017 for pontoon design.
               Review of regulation and practices needed to ensure the effectiveness of design standards for
               tethering systems and their ability to cope with large flood events.
               There is value in understanding if dislodged pontoons and infrastructure predate the 2017
               requirements.
               State’s CPMR requirements can be overridden         by local government planning scheme
               requirements where planning scheme requirements are more stringent. Further information for
               local governments to help with compliance and best practice standards is needed.
               The DES coastal branch is exploring review of the current processes which allow the rebuilding of
               2022 flood-damaged pontoons and structures without new DA requirements but incorporating the
               CPMR 2017 standard requirements.

               DES has a dedicated Pollution Hotline and funding available for clean-up activities. For more
               information and to report pollution incidents by phone, online or by email please see
               https://www.gld.gov.au/environment/management/pollution-
               management/reporting#:~:text=Phone day%2C%207%20days%20a%20week.
               Discussion:
               MSQ is in the process of reviewing pontoon building materials, potentially improving on the
               standard of wrapping of polystyrene to prevent pontoons from breaking apart.
               Concern about pontoon design guidelines and discussion about a standard regulation on keel
               shaped design and size to reduce drag. After the 2011 Brisbane River flood, ferry wharves were
               constructed in a shape similar to a ship keel and survived well. Both shape and angle to flow
               affects how the tethering system withstands flood events, both factors are being considered.
               Pontoons escaped due to both tether failure in flood (break, float off piles) and debris smashing
               into other pontoons, boats, and infrastructure.
               It may be possible to identify pontoon ownership through insurance claims, with opportunity to
               ensure the pontoon owner keeps the pontoon maintained within the standard. DES explained the
               difficulty involved in gathering proper evidence on standard compliance.
               MSQ plan to hold a series of workshops involving industry and manufacturers to review standards,
               including inclusion of a robust pontoon identification plate. This will require inspections and
               maintenance and regulation enforcement for insurance compliance requirements. It may be
               possible to link pontoon IDs with insurance requirements.

              Minutes - Polystyrene Round Table - 21 July 2022                                         Page 6

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