On the eve of the third anniversary of the February 28 2022 big flood, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has been briefed on good progress being made under the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) Richmond and Wilsons rivers flood warning improvement project.

“I recently sought and received a briefing from NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe’s office, and I’m heartened by actions and recommendations aimed at prioritising our network of gauges for installation, upgrades or integration into the flood warning network,” Ms Saffin said.

“In New South Wales, we are working to improve flood warning services in the 62 local government areas impacted by the floods in early 2022 using $15 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Emergency Response Fund.”

“Locally, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology, have installed 12 new flood gauges, seven of which have been fully commissioned and incorporated into the BoM’s flood modelling system.

“These seven stations include water level gauges at Keerong (Terania Creek), Gungas Road (Mulgum Creek), Whiporie (Myall Creek), Tatham (Sandy Creek) and Broadwater (Richmond River); and two rainfall gauges – Findon Creek and Woolners Arm.

“The remaining five stations being commissioned include water level gauges at Leycester Creek, Robert White Bridge and Casino Road Bridge; and rainfall gauges at Mid-Richmond, Bungawalbin (Clearfield) and Mummulgum.”

For more information about the ERF Richmond and Wilsons rivers flood warning improvement project, go to https://mhl.nsw.gov.au/floodstudies/DCCEEWBCD-RichmondHome.