Australia OGTR Guidelines for Certification of a PC2 Aquatic Facility (Version 3.1) A1: Flood and storm surge risk assessment and plan

What does A1 require?

Where the facility's site counts as prone (defined below) to flooding or storm surges, the risk of GMOs escaping in such an event must be assessed, considering the GMOs held, the likelihood and consequences of flooding or storm surge, and any design features of the facility that could reduce the risk. If the assessment finds the risk is more than negligible, a risk management plan must be prepared to manage the escape risk, considering whether the resources needed to carry it out will be available during the event, and the plan must be given to the Regulator on request. Flooding here covers mainstream flooding (a river, creek, lake, estuary or coastal waters rising over the artificial or natural banks of a catchment's main watercourses), flash flooding (within six hours of the causing rain) and stormwater flooding (local runoff more than an urban stormwater drainage network can carry); a storm surge means coastal water levels rising because of the low pressure of a cyclone or storm and of wind pushing water onshore. A site counts as prone if a flood or storm surge event with a 100 year ARI (Average Recurrence Interval) would put water over the facility floor (that is, a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability, or the 1 in 100 year flood level); where the local authority cannot supply the 100 year ARI level, its highest ARI or Defined Flood level is used instead. For prone facilities, the flooding details should cover the likely effective warning time before inundation and hazards that could stop the plan being carried out (such as staff unable to reach the site), and the Regulator may seek more detail during assessment. The guideline encourages anyone planning an aquatic facility in a prone area to contact the OGTR before or during planning, and suggests the plan may include, for example, removing or destroying GMOs and decontaminating all water in the primary and secondary containers and the effluent treatment system well before inundation.