• Please note, this page is closed and no further updates will be shared on this page. For the latest information on council's approach to understanding and preparing for floods, please visit Ipswich Integrated Catchment Plan.

    Ipswich Integrated Catchment Plan 

Ipswich has been selected to be part of a national project to develop the first-ever Australian guidelines on nature-based solutions for flood mitigation and resilience.

This project builds on the extensive floodplain management work undertaken by council in the Ipswich Integrated Catchment Plan, which identified a strong case for nature-based solutions.

The ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS) are partnering with council and the Ipswich community on this project focused on the Bremer catchment.

Together we will further examine innovative and practical nature-based solutions to reduce the impact of flooding, understand a range of co-benefits, and discover opportunities for implementation.

Project completed - Guidelines now available

The Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation in Australia National Guidelines have been released by ANU ICEDS in September 2025.

With help from communities and local governments across regional New South Wales and South-East Queensland - including Ipswich - the team have developed the guidelines to show how nature-based solutions can be used effectively in different regions. The guide explains:

  • how to assess and choose different options,
  • different types of nature-based solutions and how they work,
  • how to measure their benefits,
  • real-world, practical approaches for each area.

Ipswich's Bremer Catchment and our local community contributions through the community engagement were integral to the development of the guidelines.

Read the National Guidelines, Catchment Studies and Practical Guide.

Guidelines are now available

Developed in partnership with communities and local government, the National Guidelines, Catchment Studies and Practical Guide are now available.

Key findings

  • Creating a 'spongy catchment'

    The clearing of vegetation, and the hard surfaces of urban areas, greatly reduce the ability of the landscape to slow and absorb water. This can worsen the impacts of a flood as both the amount and speed of water is greatly increased.

    A spongy catchment holds and absorbs water well, often through the natural processes of a well-vegetated landscape. This can reduce runoff and flood impacts as well as provide wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, erosion control and community benefits.

  • What is being assessed for Ipswich

    Based on expert and community feedback, and detailed technical investigations, a range of nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding in Ipswich's Bremer Catchment have been proposed.

    Initial investigations include:

    • revegetation of key riverbanks
    • leaky weirs or bunds
    • reforesting key areas
    • urban green solutions.

    Any future implementation would depend on further planning and design, as well as budget requirements.

  • Potential benefits for flood mitigation

    The focus of these proposed measures is to provide nature-based solutions for reducing flood impacts.

    Initial modelling suggests the proposed solutions for Ipswich could provide benefits, individually and collectively.

    This includes reducing the impact of frequent but minor floods, as well as less frequent major floods, in the Bremer Catchment.

    More detailed information on the initial flood modelling is in the Ipswich community update November 2024.

    Read the update 

ICEDS in partnership with Ipswich City Council will be focusing on the Bremer River Catchment area.

Source: Waterway Health Strategy