CQUniversity has approved almost $200,000 worth of research projects to address issues raised during the recent floods throughout Queensland and elsewhere in Australia.

This special Vice-Chancellor's Engaged Research Initiative has given life to projects ranging from the preparedness of tourism enterprises and the economic impact on transport corridors to reduction of risks caused by horticultural nutrients flowing to the coast.

Researchers will gauge the social impacts from prolonged exposure to flood debris, including both natural and man-made materials, and also check patterns of price depression and recovery among properties in areas affected by flooding.

Another project will evaluate the role of flood-related writing workshops in promoting community identity and community healing. Researchers will also use a participatory framework to allow people to make sense of the flood events and to build community resilience for protection against future events.

Successful recipients from this round of applications:

Professor Donna Lee Brien - $20,000

Writing place through flood narratives: mapping local community identity in Central Queensland

This project seeks to include a matching research component into current external grant funded, flood-related community writing workshop projects to provide up to date information regarding community identity - in particular in relation to place and the recent flood crisis - and how such practice based initiatives promote community healing in Central Queensland.

Professor Phillip Brown, Dr Melinda McHenry, Mr John Bagshaw, Mr Tikaram Neupane - $41,438

Reducing the Risk to Estuarine and Coastal Systems of Nutrient Runoff from Horticultural Enterprises during Floods

Fertiliser runoff results in deleterious environmental outcomes in coastal systems. The horticulture industry is a significant financial stakeholder along the QLD coast, where knowledge gaps and a lack of impact assessment result in diminished capacity to assess contributions to runoff during recent flood events. This research will draw together and value-add to 3 existing industry projects in order to develop a model that will both quantify existing nutrient use, and be better able to account for losses to environmental water during stochastic events such as flood. Outcomes will include engagement and knowledge exchange with stakeholders whilst mitigating future runoff due to better fertiliser use prior to predicted high rainfall events.

Dr Wendy Madsen, Associate Professor Yvonne Toft, Ms Cathy O'Mullan, Dr Susan Rockloff, Dr Matthew Rockloff, Dr Shane Hopkinson, Ms Lisa Bricknell, Ms Natalie Dunk-Andrews - $44,629

Showing and growing community resilience in the wake of the floods

'We get knocked down but we get up again. We're Queenslanders'. This is the rally call used by Premier Bligh during the height of the flood crisis during the summer of 2010/2011. It reflects a narrative of resilience, yet despite the rhetoric, little is known of community resilience in the wake of natural disasters. This project investigates how one community has rebounded from the floods that caused the entire township to evacuate twice in a matter of weeks. It uses a Community-Based Participatory Research framework to guide and engage with the community at each stage of the project. It aims to allow the community to make sense of the recent flood events and to build community resilience to protect against future events.

Dr Scott Richardson, Professor Roger March, Ms Jan Lewis, Ms Kylie Radel - $21,252

Assessing the impact of the recent flooding on Central Queensland regional tourism enterprises and their preparedness and response to such crises.

The past decade has been particularly difficult for the tourism industry in Australia as one crisis has followed another in rapid succession.  Following the devastating impact of Cyclone Larry on the Queensland coast, Tourism Queensland developed strategies for regional tourist organisations to help mitigate the effect of such disasters.  How effective these measures have been have not been investigated.  This research will investigate the impact the recent flooding had on Central Queensland tourism operators and their preparedness and response to such crises.  It will also determine the implementation and effectiveness of Tourism Queensland's Crisis Management Template in dealing with the recent flooding in the region.

Professor John Rolfe, Dr Susan Kinnear - $12,851

Assessing the economic impacts of flood interruption to transport corridors in Central Queensland

This research will examine the economic impacts of the closure of transport corridors at Rockhampton during the 2010-2011 floods.  Most existing work has focused on direct physical impacts (such as damaged housing and infrastructure) and lost production (e.g., agriculture, mining). By contrast, this study will explore the indirect impacts of road, rail and air closures. The results will contribute to the economic argument for two key  infrastructure proposals: raising the Yeppen crossing of the Bruce Highway and floodproofing the Rockhampton airport. The study will be undertaken jointly with CTEDL, thus ensuring efficient data collection and rapid transfer of results to policy settings.

Dr Garrick Small, Mr Ian Clarkson - $9,780

The behavioural economics of real property through flood events: Evidence from residential Depot Hill, Rockhampton.

Depot Hill is the most flood sensitive area of Rockhampton.  It forms the study area for this investigation into the market behaviour of flood affected real estate.  The impact of flood events on real estate pricing is examined to compare rational expectations with observed behaviour.  Post-flood resident perception of the inconvenience of flooding and the expert views of local property professionals are related to historical market data to reveal patterns in property price depression and recovery over time.  Further research using a similar methodology on other flood affected areas is anticipated as well as contributions to behavioural economics.

Dr Scott Wilson, Professor Marnie Campbell - $34,506

Flood Debris - social implications and environmental consequences

River systems under flood are responsible for inundation of terrestrial landscapes resulting in discharge and eventual deposition of natural and synthetic debris in coastal habitats. However, little information exists on the social implications or the ecological impacts associated with this deposition. The proposed study will determine the proportion of natural versus synthetic debris on flood influenced shorelines, the longevity of this debris post flood and the role this debris may play in coastal ecological communities. The community perception of flood debris impact will also be explored, including aesthetic impacts, human and pet health threats, and the cost of beach clean-ups.