Moreton Bay flood mapping

Council offers free flood mapping and reports to our community and industry professionals. This information helps everyone better understand flood risk across the city. Knowing these risks allows people to protect themselves and their property. It also allows them to make informed decisions about emergency preparedness and flood risk management. 

Our flood mapping tools and resources differ in the type of flood information they provide and how often they can be updated. Flood check property reports and the Moreton Bay Flood Viewer have been updated to reflect Council’s latest flood information from the City Flood Data 2025 update.

Flood information for existing properties

Council's flood check property reports and Flood Viewer reflect Council's latest available flood information.

Moreton Bay Flood Viewer  

Moreton Bay Flood Viewer is Council’s interactive flood map. Flood Viewer reflects the information contained in Council’s flood check property reports. It shows the extent and depth of flooding for three different-sized floods:

It shows flooding from three different sources: overland flow, storm tide inundation, and river, creek and urban drainage flooding. You can search the map by address to see flooding in locations where you live, work and play.

Visit Moreton Bay Flood Viewer

The maps in Moreton Bay Flood Viewer are different to the Flood hazard overlay and Coastal hazard overlay in Council's planning scheme.

Flood check property reports

Property owners can download a free flood check property report to understand how different flood events may impact a property. The information in these reports is based on the same flood data contained in the Moreton Bay Flood Viewer.

Flood check property reports are the most reliable source of information for an individual property. This is because they can capture changes due to new development. Because flood information changes, you should re-download your flood check property report periodically to check your property’s flood information.

Request a flood check property report

These reports are the best information to provide to insurers when requesting a flood insurance premium quote. Learn more about using Council information for flood insurance quotes.

Updating flood mapping

Council seeks to provide consistent and high-quality flood information for the city. This requires regular updates to our flood modelling and mapping. Generally, Council aims to update its flood data every 5 years.  

Flood information updates consider:

• recently constructed infrastructure
• new development
• latest available terrain data
• national and industry guidelines
• other relevant matters.

Additionally, after every significant flood event, Council surveys flood marks and analyses recorded flood gauge information. This information is then used to validate and refine our flood models to help make them as accurate as possible.

Once new flood data has been produced and accepted by Council, flood information is updated in the Flood Viewer and flood check property reports.

All flood mapping has limitations. Even if your property is not within a mapped flood area, it can still be indirectly impacted by a flood. Local factors like trees, blockages, and fences can cause unexpected flooding during severe rainfall. Understanding both direct and indirect impacts will help you prepare for flood events. 

Learn more about flood hazard and your risk.

Data from new developments

Flood check property reports and Flood Viewer mapping reflect current on the ground conditions as accurately as possible. However, the rate of change in our city means the flood mapping can’t be updated every time a new development is completed. Changes to ground levels and the stormwater network will be incorporated into periodic flood model updates. Generally, Council aims to update its flood data every 5 years.  

This means the flood maps in the Moreton Bay Flood Viewer may not reflect recent changes in terrain or land use from new development, or other changes to the ground surface. When Council is made aware that new development has occurred, a hatched area will be shown over the property. This indicates that Council is aware that ground level and flood data is subject to change. 

Our flood check property reports can be more readily updated to capture new ground-level information as new developments occur.  

Learn more about flood check property reports.

Flood information for development and building works  

Flood-related overlay maps

The Planning Scheme’s Flood Hazard and Coastal Hazard - Storm tide inundation overlay maps show the possible extent of flooding. This is based on how likely a flood is to occur, how deep the water may be and how fast it could flow. The maps consider smaller more common flood events to the rarest flood event that can be modelled.

Their key purpose is to identify when the Flood hazard and Coastal hazard overlay codes apply. The codes set out specific flood risk reduction measures that apply to new development.  

The Flood hazard and Coastal hazard - Storm tide inundation overlay maps and related planning scheme codes are effective tools for reducing flood risks.

View the flood related overlay maps.

Flood check development reports  

Flood check development reports provide information for people planning building works or development on land identified within the Flood hazard overlay and Coastal hazard overlay. They help to understand the flood-related development requirements of the 2016 Planning Scheme.  

They are useful when looking at a property’s development opportunities and constraints. They include property-specific information on:  

• flood and coastal planning areas  
• defined flood events  
• applicable freeboard information  
• flood planning levels  
• flow velocity constraints  
• the year 2100 highest astronomical tide level  
• overland flow.  

Flood check development reports guide design and engineering plans to reduce flood risks for people, homes, and businesses. These reports should be read alongside the Planning Scheme.  

Find out more about flood check development reports.

Updating the Flood hazard overlay map and associated information  

The current Flood hazard and Coastal hazard - Storm tide hazard inundation overlay maps contain flood and ground-level information from before the Planning Scheme was released in 2016.  

To update a planning scheme overlay map, Council must follow a state statutory process. This process can take between 12 months to 2 years. For this reason, the Flood hazard and Coastal hazard - Storm tide hazard inundation overlay maps cannot be readily updated to reflect ongoing changes to the landscape from new development.  

These maps should not be used to understand present-day flood risk.  

Flood check development reports provide supporting information for Council’s current Planning Scheme (2016). The flood information in the report cannot be updated or amended independently from a major scheme update.

Find out more about Planning Scheme amendments.

Future updates to the Flood hazard overlay

Updating the Flood hazard overlay map in the Planning Scheme (2016) requires a city-wide flood risk assessment. A flood risk assessment study is currently underway, in line with State Government requirements, utilising the CFD 2025 information. This study will inform future reviews of planning policy and development requirements.

Find more flood information for new development and building works.

Flood studies and reports

Several flood studies and investigation reports have been developed to assist in determining the various floodplains in our city.

Learn more about our flood studies and reports.