Locally owned and independent
July 7, 2022
The Northern Rivers Times
NEWS 21
Calls to include Clarence in flood data assessment Clarence Valley Mayor Ian Tiley has demanded the Clarence be included in any 2022 flood studies and assessments after discovering the region had been ignored in initial assessments by a NSW Government department. Mayor Tiley put forward the Minute at the June Council meeting upon advice from the Department of Planning and Environment that post flood data behaviour assessments already MONUMENTAL TASK: Lismore MP Janelle Saffin with, from left, Northern Rivers Reconstruction undertaken focused on Corporation Chief Executive David Witherdin, Northern Region Recovery Coordinator Assistant the Richmond, Wilson, Commissioner Mal Lanyon, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Lismore Mayor Cr Steve Krieg when the Brunswick and Tweed new authority was announced in April. rivers - local government areas to the north of the Clarence Valley. Clarence Valley The long-term flood “The NRRC will residents,” Mr Witherdin the new corporation to Council was excluded recovery in the continue this important said. compulsorily acquire or from this work on the Northern Rivers takes work and ensure that “We’re looking at the subdivide land, fastanother step forward we’re not only building data, principles and track the building of new basis that flood levels at the Prince Street, with the Northern back better for now but strategic design for a premises and accelerate Grafton gauge were Rivers Reconstruction we’re building back housing program that the delivery of planning not considered of the Corporation (NRRC) better for generations may include buyback, proposals through the same scale as rivers to formally stood-up last well into the future.” house raising, resilient Department of Planning the north and that there week. NRRC Chief Executive rebuilding and the and Environment.” was already sufficient Deputy Premier and David Witherdin said potential for land swaps, Minister for Flood historical data about Minister for Regional the NRRC is working and we’re working to get Recovery Steph Cooke river behaviour based on NSW Paul Toole said closely with Government this program running as said since March, more while there has already agencies and key soon as possible. than 40,000 applications the level at Grafton. been a lot of work done stakeholders to prioritise “We will prioritise have been received for Mayor Tiley stressed to help flood-affected community needs and evidence-based decisions flood support across the that this decision did not communities start the gather data and intel that put the safety State and more than 30 consider the significantly rebuilding, the NRRC’s to map out and deliver of communities first funding packages have higher flood levels goal was to accelerate a detailed rebuilding but will also consider been approved. at towns and villages the return to normal life. strategy. community sentiment “The NSW Government downstream. Grafton’s “We have been “The NRRC is focused and will continue to is committed to peak of 7.664m had an working hard rebuilding on building for longlisten to what they need. supporting our Northern average exceedance community infrastructure term prosperity and “We’re working to Rivers communities probability* (AEP) of and coordinating the will be guided by an get people back to every step of the way 6.6 per cent, compared to delivery of innovative advisory board, made up their lives as soon as through the ongoing 2 per cent for Maclean’s housing solutions,” Mr of experts, community possible and this next flood recovery effort,” 3.36m peak. Toole said. leaders and local step forward will allow Ms Cooke said. “The flood level at
Grafton was not a predictor for the flood behaviour downstream,” Mayor Tiley said. “It is clear the Clarence flood increased in volume as it moved downstream and staff consider it likely the extreme localised rainfall events in the tributaries of the lower catchment impacted Clarence River levels downstream of Grafton, and that post flood data behaviour assessments may inform these assumptions.” CVC previously reported in April that Yamba experienced its biggest rainfall event on record, with 1267mm in February and March. This included 274.4mm on 28 February - the highest 24-hour February total on record - and 258.2mm on 1 March for a total of 532mm. “There has been no event or combination of events since records began that comes close to the rainfall totals recorded at Yamba in February and March,” Clarence Valley Council Director Works and Civil Jamie Fleeting said at the time.
BOM/SES flood forecasting, warnings, evacuation orders, SES: There is no faith in the BOM/SES flood forecasting and warning system. A review is not required but a fix is. We are told that agreements between the CWTH and State require the BOM to issue flood warnings. This has been harmful to community. It is currently untimely, contradictory and confusing and too late and river gauges need to be in the right places, functioning, subject to proper maintenance, and a responsible agency. Early Flood Alert systems: There is solid financial modelling that demonstrates the economic benefits of early flood warning. I
know this because I like many others seek other sources. For example, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and other local knowledgeable people.
A step forward in long-term flood recovery
recommended Federal Government commit to pre-disaster resilience works of $200 million (they have) and states and territories to match it. Mitigation must be at the heart of ‘build back better’. Government’s human security obligation demands it - it is inextricably linked to affordable-accessible insurance and now the CSIRO study. The extra funding committed to the study is welcome, but it must be clear in scope and approach before it feeds into the overall mitigation measures and must consider what works in other places, Netherlands, etc. - An MOU among CWTH/ State/Local governments to provide proper funding for priority
flood mitigation projects already identified across the three catchments. Flood reinsurance scheme Northern Rivers: Prior to the Federal election, I asked NSW Treasurer Matt Kean to urgently take up the issue with his counterpart. It is a point of entry and discussion. The jury is out on the CWTH government-backed Northern Australia Cyclone Reinsurance Pool–backed by a $10-million government guarantee. The future of insurance for our region and mitigation efforts are key to reconstruction. National Building Code: It contains three core principles, health and safety, amenity
and accessibility and sustainability, but nothing on resilience which better speaks to flood resistant or flood ready. (See QRA’s Flood Resilient Building) The NRCC must issue a good guidance note ASAP. Rivers clean-up/river health: Further clean-up of our rivers, contaminated by flood debris and sewage, cannot wait. An Environmental Recovery Package could fund this across the Richmond, Tweed and Clarence river catchments. (There is a joint $64 million for riparian restoration-no detail) See the NRJO’s Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative (NRWI) -- a $150-million strategy
over the next decade to enhance river health systems (some currently ranked D- and F). Roads: Roads are subject to the no betterment clause under disaster management grants and that must change. The up to 15,000 kilometre take back of regional roads has to happen. Landslips: Landslips have severely disrupted everyday life for many residents, including local farmers who in some cases have had their access to farmland cut. Landslip repair has to be factored into recovery and reconstruction as programs roll out to repair roads, bridges and fencing.
Review of off-farm income criteria and grants: The unfair off-farm income rule – farmers are ineligible if they make more than 50 per cent of their income off farm – does not recognise that it is common place for one partner to be working off farm so that they can farm! Secondly, at least half of the $75,000 primary producer grant should be available up front so farmers can get access to the funds they need to get going.
