Flood Modelling Presentations – Manningham City Council Community Consultation

Rain Consulting designed and delivered a two-part presentation series to Manningham City Council’s Community Flood Reference Group and all councillors. The sessions explained flood modelling and mapping, demystifying technical concepts for a non-technical audience and building trust in the council’s approach to flood risk. Both sessions were very well received, with participants praising their clarity and relevance.

Above & Beyond Strategies

Manningham Council needed to engage community members and elected representatives in a meaningful way, helping them understand flood models and the limitations of flood mapping. The main challenge was to translate highly technical information into accessible, honest content that could support future decision-making and community discussions.

Rain delivered the following solutions.

• Developed two separate, targeted presentations: one for the Community Flood Reference Group and one for all Manningham councillors.
• Clearly explained the basics of flood modelling, including rainfall, runoff, infiltration, evaporation, and how a flood model works.
• Used engaging graphics and animations to illustrate concepts such as catchment processes, model build steps, and grid surface representation.
• Detailed all data inputs to flood models, including rainfall, surface elevations, land use, model roughness, pipes and pits, and how each is mapped.
• Provided real-world examples to show how models are constructed and where their accuracy can be affected by data limitations.
• Addressed common questions about accuracy, uncertainty, and fit-for-purpose results, including calibration, site visits, and sensitivity testing.
• Updated the group on the latest Australian Rainfall and Runoff guidance and industry best practice.
• Created space for open Q&A and discussion, supporting a transparent approach to flood risk engagement.

The presentations equipped community members and councillors with a strong understanding of flood modelling and mapping. By building a foundation of trust and shared knowledge, Rain enabled more informed conversations and paved the way for genuine community input on future flood management decisions.

Manningham Council will use the presentation materials as a reference point for ongoing community engagement, project updates, and further technical briefings. Future sessions will be tailored based on participant feedback and emerging community needs.