Planner sounds alarm about flood map problem we’ve ‘really got to worry about’

Planners are warning out-of-date flood maps and a lack of coordination mean new homes are being built in potential flood plains.

Director of systems and science at Climate Risk, Dr Karl Mallon, says a lot of mapping is “based on historical weather events”.

“Now, with climate change, they’ve been gradually changing and in most places worsening,” Dr Mallon told Ross and Russel.

“Someone might have brought a house, or built a house, on a flood plain that was deemed insurable or acceptable 30 years ago, or frankly, it’s still happening today.”

Dr Mallon says updating insurance premiums to reflect new risk to some areas will mean more people can’t afford insurance.

“The people who couldn’t afford the insurance and their house has been flooded, and they’re the ones we’ve really got to worry about now.”

Press PLAY below to hear why Dr Mallon is concerned

Image: Nine News