What do you think of when buying a property or a parcel of land? If you’re like most people, chances are you focus on things like:
- Proximity to public transport
- Privacy
- Price and stamp duty
- Crime rates
What few home buyers think about are the “boring” details - we’re talking about things like zoning, soil condition, bushfire attack level and covenants.
One of these “boring” details that often gets overlooked is the risk of flooding.
Just because you don’t live near a lake or a flood plain doesn’t mean that you’re immune to flooding. In fact, there are many cases where you might need a flood certificate anyway…
What can a flood certificate report tell you?
If you’re going to protect your home and assets from flood damage, it’s important that you know your flood risk first.
And a flood certificate report is exactly what you need to get this information!
Included in your flood certificate report might be information such as....
And a flood certificate report is exactly what you need to get this information!
Included in your flood certificate report might be information such as....
1. The 100-year ARI flood levels for your location
“The likelihood of occurrence, expressed in terms of the long-term average number of years, between flood events as large as or larger than the design flood event”
In Flood Victoria’s own words, that’s what the Average Recurrence Interval (ARI for short) refers to.
In plain English, this information essentially tells you what a “once-a-century” flood looks like in your area.
For some flat areas that are far away from waterways and with low rainfall, this might only be an ankle-high puddle - for others, it could be a flood that reaches the roof.
Depending on your 100-year ARI flood level, you may have to incorporate different features into your blueprint in order to protect the property from the risk of flood-related damage.
And speaking of protecting your property from flood damage...
In Flood Victoria’s own words, that’s what the Average Recurrence Interval (ARI for short) refers to.
In plain English, this information essentially tells you what a “once-a-century” flood looks like in your area.
For some flat areas that are far away from waterways and with low rainfall, this might only be an ankle-high puddle - for others, it could be a flood that reaches the roof.
Depending on your 100-year ARI flood level, you may have to incorporate different features into your blueprint in order to protect the property from the risk of flood-related damage.
And speaking of protecting your property from flood damage...
2. Specific conditions to your construction needs to comply with flood risk reports
One of the most important things included in your flood certificate report? Your overall flood risk.
Naturally, you’ll want to minimise that risk and bring it down as much as possible - this is especially important if you’re building.
Of course, you’ll need to know what you need to do!
In addition to identifying your flood risk, a flood certificate report also identifies what you can incorporate into your construction to minimise your flood risk - incredibly useful information for builders.
For example, your flood certificate report may lay out minimum floor levels to stop water from getting into your property (this is why so many north Queensland homes are elevated or built on stilts!)
Naturally, you’ll want to minimise that risk and bring it down as much as possible - this is especially important if you’re building.
Of course, you’ll need to know what you need to do!
In addition to identifying your flood risk, a flood certificate report also identifies what you can incorporate into your construction to minimise your flood risk - incredibly useful information for builders.
For example, your flood certificate report may lay out minimum floor levels to stop water from getting into your property (this is why so many north Queensland homes are elevated or built on stilts!)
3. Your residential zone
Do you live in a flood zone? Your flood certificate will tell you!
Certain high-risk areas are labelled as flood zones owing to a combination of geographical features including natural waterways. These areas will be identified using a flooding overlay.
As part of your flood certificate will be a document listing whether or not your property falls into a flood zone.
Certain high-risk areas are labelled as flood zones owing to a combination of geographical features including natural waterways. These areas will be identified using a flooding overlay.
As part of your flood certificate will be a document listing whether or not your property falls into a flood zone.
4. Land level information
It isn’t just properties near waterways that need to worry about flooding - in many cases, the terrain can also play a role in flooding.
Say you live at the bottom of a hill.
In many cases, rain and runoff water from higher up can build up on your property, resulting in localised flooding.
The land level information section of your flood report will cover information such as:
- Drainage
- Elevation
- Water collection points
Say you live at the bottom of a hill.
In many cases, rain and runoff water from higher up can build up on your property, resulting in localised flooding.
The land level information section of your flood report will cover information such as:
- Drainage
- Elevation
- Water collection points
5. Contact details for further flood risk information
While the flood certificate report aims to give you and your architect all the information you need to build a property that’s protected against flooding, there will be times when you need more information.
As part of your flood certificate report, you’ll also receive the contact information for each of the agencies and providers consulted in the commissioning of your flood certificate report if you need more information.
As part of your flood certificate report, you’ll also receive the contact information for each of the agencies and providers consulted in the commissioning of your flood certificate report if you need more information.
Getting a flood certificate report in Victoria: who issues flood certificates?
If you’ve read our blog before (possibly in preparation for a purchase or construction project of your own), you’ll know that most of the documentation you’ll need to lay the groundwork doesn’t come from the council.
Instead, it comes from a mix of different agencies, authorities and private service providers.
Flood certificate reports are no different.
In this case, flood reports are official documents issued by the Catchment Management Authority or your area’s statutory body (for example, in Melbourne it would be Melbourne Water).
Gathering information from so many different sources can be a time-consuming process, especially if you’re building from scratch. The truly ridiculous amount of different reports and certificates you accumulate can turn into a massive time sink.
Luckily, there’s a better way to get your flood certificate report - thanks to PSI!
Instead, it comes from a mix of different agencies, authorities and private service providers.
Flood certificate reports are no different.
In this case, flood reports are official documents issued by the Catchment Management Authority or your area’s statutory body (for example, in Melbourne it would be Melbourne Water).
Gathering information from so many different sources can be a time-consuming process, especially if you’re building from scratch. The truly ridiculous amount of different reports and certificates you accumulate can turn into a massive time sink.
Luckily, there’s a better way to get your flood certificate report - thanks to PSI!
Get your documentation with PSI Global
The process of getting all the different documents you need before you can even break ground can be enough to drive you insane.
Fortunately, PSI’s automated all-in-one document search process changes this.
Instead of having to spend hours liaising with different agencies and service providers, you can get all the documents and reports you need at once.
All you’ll have to do is select what you need from a list - our automated system will do the rest!
Whether you need a flood certificate report in Melbourne’s suburbs or regional Victoria, get in touch with PSI today.
Whether you need an Energy report on its own or as part of the mountain of documents that go into planning a new construction or renovation project, PSI is here to make the process as easy as possible.
Make your document search faster - start the search with just an address, lot and plan, or crown allotment.
Need to chat? Give us a call on (03) 8527 6300 or click here to touch base online.
Fortunately, PSI’s automated all-in-one document search process changes this.
Instead of having to spend hours liaising with different agencies and service providers, you can get all the documents and reports you need at once.
All you’ll have to do is select what you need from a list - our automated system will do the rest!
Whether you need a flood certificate report in Melbourne’s suburbs or regional Victoria, get in touch with PSI today.
Whether you need an Energy report on its own or as part of the mountain of documents that go into planning a new construction or renovation project, PSI is here to make the process as easy as possible.
Make your document search faster - start the search with just an address, lot and plan, or crown allotment.
Need to chat? Give us a call on (03) 8527 6300 or click here to touch base online.
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. As with all things property, we strongly recommend consulting a professional to ensure that all stages of your building project (including the Title search) go smoothly.