Flood risk in Australia is going to increase in the future with climate change and rising pressure from urbanisation. Qualitative research was undertaken to explore the impacts of, and to increase debate regarding future flood risk in three different locations who are implementing alternative adaptation approaches. Case studies are presented to: 1) Explore the development process and experience of the Brownhill and Keswick Creek (BHKC) Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) in South Australia; 2) the impact of the 2011 floods in south-east Queensland (SE QLD), and; 3) the implementation of the Flood Risk Management Act (Scotland) 2009 and its policy and planning implications in Scotland, United Kingdom.

The BHKC SMP has been a long process which resulted in the five local councils opting against a ‘traditional' dam option. In response to the 2011 SE QLD floods, the town of Grantham and surrounds implemented a relocation policy. Scotland's Act responded to the European Floods Directive which requires a focus on sustainable flood risk management and introducing ‘natural' flood management. Some of the issues found to be prevalent across the case studies included a need for more funding, increased data/mapping, equitable insurance, and inconsistencies and confusion surrounding diffused governance responsibilities. Local political and community motivations can be considered to be important for the introduction of adaptation measures to increasing risk.