Mildura Weir to be removed to make way for high river flows: MDBA, GMW
The Mildura weir will be temporarily removed to allow high Murray River flows to pass through, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and Goulburn-Murray Water announced. MDBA Executive Director of River Management Andrew Reynolds said the weir needed to be removed ahead of increased flows expected to arrive by mid-September.
Release of independent flood inquiry: NSW Gov’t
The NSW Government has released and responded to the 28 recommendations of the independent Flood Inquiry, commissioned in response to the major floods earlier this year. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the recommendations of the report provide a blueprint for change and practical actions to ensure communities and government can prepare for floods in the future, and recover faster.
Wagga MP wants dam levels limited to 80%
A Wagga MP is calling on the government to limit levels at Blowering and Burrinjuck Dams to 80 per cent, amid the threat of ongoing flooding for communities. Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said farmers and landowners had spent long and frustrating hours of work moving stock and preparing their properties for floods and face the prospect of the situation repeating in coming months.
Preparedness must start now ahead of future flooding disasters
Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said it was crucial government, associated agencies and the community learn from the findings of a major flood inquiry and focus on ways to improve our response to disasters in the future.
Naracoorte Creek in the news
Sheryl Lowe. Passionate about nature and the natural flow of waterways, local retired farmer Mr Peter "Huck” Shepherd presented his findings about the potential flooding of the Naracoorte Creek and the possible damage to buildings, businesses and homes in the lower lying areas of the town, to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council meeting ... “If I were to give a rating on the creek’s wellbeing and capacity to handle a decent flood and observing the mess it is in and the lack of maintenance since the 2000 report, out of a ten rating I would give it a minus 5,” he told council.
NSW Flood Inquiry final report – Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals reaction
"Local response plans cannot be effectively formulated bureaucratically and remotely from the disaster epicentres. For this reason, the BCCM has strongly advocated the establishment of a National Co-operative Disaster Recovery Centre of Excellence, with Lismore the stand-out candidate for its location" : Melina Morrison, CEO, BCCM.
Leadership vacuum left people struggling – flood report
The report on the floods is in and it is a riveting and sobering read. With 21 findings and 37 recommendations, the NSW Legislative Council Select Committee has tackled the government’s response to the floods, the operations of the SES and the difficulties of getting grants from Resilience NSW.
Council talks stormwater funding
The Narrandera Shire Council has agreed to increase its 2022-23 borrowing bid to the Office of Local Government and NSW Treasury from $2 million to $3 million to enable it to undertake stormwater infrastructure works in urban Narrandera. The works are aimed at solving severe flooding that occurred in the town earlier this year.
A lot rides on the man who will lead the flood rebuild
“Failure is not an option,” David Witherden said. The civil engineer has a massive job ahead of him as chief executive of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation that will lead the rebuild and recovery after the floods ... The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation was set up on July 1 and the actions it takes will be defined by the State Government flood inquiry findings.
Grafton sewage plant decision ‘on the nose’
Geoff Helisma. Councillors have unanimously supported a Notice of Motion (NOM) to “review [the] former council's decision, to construct a new sewage treatment plant (STP) on the existing north Grafton STP site” ... “Recent flooding of STPs in Lismore, Ballina and Byron Bay local government areas is a timely wakeup call that placing STPs in flood zoned areas should be avoided”: Cr Karen Toms's NOM.
Post disaster workshops will help landholders restore waterways
Landholders in Myrtle Creek, Busby’s Flat, Upper Cherry Tree, Mongogarie, Pikapene and surrounding areas are invited to Fire and Flood Restoration Workshops at the Rappville Pub this month. All Richmond Valley landholders can join in the workshops which will focus on building community capacity and resilience to extreme events.
Is that my swimming pool in your cane field? Drones pinpoint flood debris
Farmers are finding caravans, gas cylinders, washing machines and even a swimming pool washed into their fields since the floods. Fire and Rescue NSW crews are using drones to help spot and clear this leftover flood debris in cane fields.
Community meeting calls for floodplain development to pause
Rodney Stevens. It was standing room only at Yamba's Wooli Street hall on Saturday as Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann joined concerned residents at a public meeting convened by Valley Watch to illustrate concerning developments on the floodplain. Attendees learned of Valley Watch's activities, raising awareness of development on the West Yamba floodplain since it first became an issue under the former Maclean Shire Council in 1995.
No date for repairs to Kital Road Bridge
Following the recent article in the Allora Advertiser about the state of Kital Road Bridge, the Southern Downs Regional Council was questioned on when repair work would be undertaken. A reply has been received from a Council spokesperson.
Driven to help local farmers
Emma Pritchard. Aussie Hay Runners have partnered with Feed for Friends and the Rotary Club of Melton to transport 1000 bales of hay and several pallets of hard feed from rural Victoria to the Clarence Valley in support of local producers and small hobby farmers who have been adversely affected by the unprecedented flooding which devastated communities throughout Northern NSW earlier this year. A convoy of 31 trucks arrived in Grafton over the weekend.
Elevating flood forecasting in Gemfields
Central Highlands Regional Council are continuing to zoom in on flood management in the Gemfields with the installation of a new flood and camera gauge – Graves Hill ALERT. Located upstream of Graves Hill, the new automated river gauge includes an infrared camera which enables visibility of flood waters day and night.
Flooded hobby farmers need feed too
Sarah Booth is heartbroken about the small hobby farmers who don’t have enough feed for their animals since the floods. “I don’t have cattle but all I could see was heartbreak,” the Wyrallah woman said. Ms Booth has 60 families waiting for animal feed for cows, horses, pigs, goats and sheep.
Huge gap in State funding for roads and flood recovery
Last week’s council meeting was a big one. The last for the financial year so it included the budget. The State Government’s lack of action on flood recovery was a theme throughout the meeting. Here’s the summary of the Richmond Valley Council meeting on June 28.
Fresh flooding to impact food supply chain
Farmers across the state are once again being hit by wild weather creating fresh concerns about food supply chains ... The impacts of the torrential rain are being felt out into the central west, and vegetable growers in the Hunter Valley have had paddocks drowned for a third time this year.
From the Embers: Phoenix
In episodes 5 and 6 from the second season of the award winning short radio and podcast series From the Embers, we check in with two different communities on their resilience journeys. Episode 5, 'Right Fire Wrong Fire' goes to the South Coast of NSW where the mega fires of 2019/20 destroyed 1.5m hectares of Yuin Country, killing countless animals, plants, and insect species.
To raise or not to raise and wait? Voluntary house raising scheme will take some time
It will take until the end of next year before the details of the voluntary house raising scheme are sorted. This isn’t what homeowners want to hear. They want to make a decision now. Do they use flood recovery grants or home insurance payouts to raise their house? If they do, they won’t be refunded when the house raising scheme details are confirmed.
Sonar used to locate flood debris in rivers
Environment Protection Authority are removing dangerous obstacles to navigation and water safety – including giant tree trunks and water tanks – out of rivers. Crews are using an advanced sonar program to survey rivers for hazardous submerged debris with shoreline clean-up crews coming in behind to remove the debris once it is located.
