The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) has announced that a project to upgrade North Queensland’s flood warning network is now complete.
The QRA said 180 new flood warning assets had been installed across 28 Council areas in the Far North, North and North-West of the State.
Minister Responsible for the QRA, Steven Miles said extensive consultation had been undertaken within all affected Local Government areas.
“The QRA worked closely with Councils, regional organisations of Councils, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail, Sunwater and other State Agencies to support the delivery of timely and accurate flood warnings for Queenslanders,” Dr Miles said.
“The work undertaken for these assets was extensive, including site assessments, surveys and approvals, including cultural heritage checks and sign-off from each Council.”
He said the aim was to ensure people in flood-prone communities had appropriate warning of flood events. This included allocations for new and upgraded flood warning infrastructure.
“There are now more than 3,200 rainfall and river gauges across the State informing of flood warnings and forecasts,” Dr Miles said.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the Flood Warning Infrastructure Network project had been made possible through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
“A third La Niña season means an increased risk of cyclones and flooding across Northern Queensland,” Senator Watt said.
“These rain gauges, rain towers, flood warning signs and high-tech cameras at strategic locations support timely flood warning intelligence,” he said.
