What astounds about floods in Brisbane is that they continue to take us by surprise

A decade ago, as Brisbane’s record floods receded, many residents were left shocked and awed that such a devastating inundation could happen to a modern city.

But while there is no denying Queensland’s rainfall events of late 2010 and early 2011 were exceptional, Brisbane had flooded before — and it will flood again.

It is a history we can ill afford to forget as we continue to live and build on the flood plain.

Floods of the 1800s

The most astounding thing about floods in Brisbane is that they continue to take us by surprise.

Even the official Commission of Inquiry set up in the wake of the 2011 floods stated:

“The disastrous floods…