Latest news with #floodmitigation
ABC News
17 hours ago
- Science
- ABC News
CSIRO creates pinpoint accurate model of Richmond River catchment to test flood mitigation options
In an effort to better understand flood behaviour in one of the wettest parts of Australia, scientists have turned the region's river system into a virtual model. The CSIRO has mapped the Richmond River catchment in northern New South Wales at an unprecedented level of detail. The first-of-its-kind model will help test the most effective way of protecting communities against floods. Senior principal research scientist Jai Vaze said it was a detailed mathematical representation of the 7,000-square-kilometre catchment. It includes millions of data inputs capturing flood-relevant factors including topography, hydrology, evaporation, soil types and vegetation. "To look at any flood-mitigation scenarios reliably, whether it will work or not, you need a catchment-scale model," Dr Vaze said. The model shows how flooding unfolded across a six-week period in 2022 across the catchment. Its pinpoint accuracy relies in part on Bureau of Meteorology rainfall data refined to hourly readings localised to one-square-kilometre grids. It may sound simple enough, but the model has been the result of more than two years of painstaking work by Dr Vaze and his team. Lidar technology with 3D laser scanning gathered 16 measurement points per square metre across 30,000 square kilometres of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Clarence river catchments. The team used sonar to collect high-resolution data on river depths and riverbed undulation. Dr Vaze said the model would have the capacity to accurately test the effect of various flood mitigation options, or "bundles" of options, that could include hard infrastructure such as levees. He said the project shifted the dial from reactive flood responses to actively planning ahead to mitigate their effects. "The government wanted to look at whether something could really be done [to mitigate flooding]. "There are a number of local area models built over past decades, but a full catchment model was needed to answer any real questions for flood mitigation." The 2022 Northern Rivers floods have cost the NSW and federal governments $880 million in reactive solutions designed to move people off the flood plain, or elevate and retrofit people's homes to withstand the next flood when it inevitably comes. A further $150 million has been allocated to resilience measures including repairs and upgrades to pumping stations, improvements to town drains and flood channels, establishing community-led resilience teams and reforestation projects. The Lismore Citizens Flood Review Group has been lobbying for action to address flooding in the catchment since the Cyclone Debbie flood of 2017, and worked closely with Dr Vaze to feed local knowledge into the model. Beth Trevan and her son Richard said it was serendipitous good fortune that led to then National Recovery and Resilience Agency coordinator Shane Stone supporting and funding the project. Mrs Trevan said it was also the region's great fortune that Dr Vaze was assigned to do the job. "He is totally committed to the region and solving the problem," she said. "He has given his life to it for the past three years, seven days a week — he never stops working on it. "What is being developed is international best practice; it's not only going to be a template for Australia, it's going to be a template internationally. Richard Trevan said a lot was riding on the success of the model in coming up with flood-mitigation solutions for the Richmond River catchment. "We are the most at-risk community in the nation for floods, but to date fully effective solutions have not been implemented," Mr Trevan said. "Nationally, just 3 per cent of government funding has gone into mitigation while 97 per cent is spent on recovery. "Lismore has one chance to get this right. For us, it's about getting the final recommendation to the point where our politicians can actually move forward and make the kinds of changes that are needed. "Ultimately, for our kids and our grandkids, we want them to be able to look back at this moment and say that we got it right." Whian Whian resident Patrick Tatam has lived for a decade at the headwaters of a tributary feeding the catchment. When the rain really comes down at his place, two-hourly checks of his rain gauge reveal what's in store for downstream communities including Lismore, Coraki and Woodburn. He is skeptical that anything can be done to protect them. "It is strong and violent."
ABC News
17 hours ago
- Science
- ABC News
CSIRO creates 3D model of Richmond River catchment to test flood mitigation options
In an effort to better understand flood behaviour in one of the wettest parts of Australia, scientists have turned the region's river system into a virtual model. The CSIRO has mapped the Richmond River catchment in northern New South Wales at an unprecedented level of detail. The first-of-its-kind model will help test the most effective way of protecting communities against floods. Senior principal research scientist Jai Vaze said it was a detailed mathematical representation of the 7,000-square-kilometre catchment. It includes millions of data inputs capturing flood-relevant factors including topography, hydrology, evaporation, soil types and vegetation. "To look at any flood-mitigation scenarios reliably, whether it will work or not, you need a catchment-scale model," Dr Vaze said. The model shows how flooding unfolded across a six-week period in 2022 across the catchment. Its pinpoint accuracy relies in part on Bureau of Meteorology rainfall data refined to hourly readings localised to one-square-kilometre grids. It may sound simple enough, but the model has been the result of more than two years of painstaking work by Dr Vaze and his team. Lidar technology with 3D laser scanning gathered 16 measurement points per square metre across 30,000 square kilometres of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Clarence river catchments. The team used sonar to collect high-resolution data on river depths and riverbed undulation. Dr Vaze said the model would have the capacity to accurately test the effect of various flood mitigation options, or "bundles" of options, that could include hard infrastructure such as levees. He said the project shifted the dial from reactive flood responses to actively planning ahead to mitigate their effects. "The government wanted to look at whether something could really be done [to mitigate flooding]. "There are a number of local area models built over past decades, but a full catchment model was needed to answer any real questions for flood mitigation." The 2022 Northern Rivers floods have cost the NSW and federal governments $880 million in reactive solutions designed to move people off the flood plain, or elevate and retrofit people's homes to withstand the next flood when it inevitably comes. A further $150 million has been allocated to resilience measures including repairs and upgrades to pumping stations, improvements to town drains and flood channels, establishing community-led resilience teams and reforestation projects. The Lismore Citizens Flood Review Group has been lobbying for action to address flooding in the catchment since the Cyclone Debbie flood of 2017, and worked closely with Dr Vaze to feed local knowledge into the model. Beth Trevan and her son Richard said it was serendipitous good fortune that led to then National Recovery and Resilience Agency coordinator Shane Stone supporting and funding the project. Mrs Trevan said it was also the region's great fortune that Dr Vaze was assigned to do the job. "He is totally committed to the region and solving the problem," she said. "He has given his life to it for the past three years, seven days a week — he never stops working on it. "What is being developed is international best practice; it's not only going to be a template for Australia, it's going to be a template internationally. Richard Trevan said a lot was riding on the success of the model in coming up with flood-mitigation solutions for the Richmond River catchment. "We are the most at-risk community in the nation for floods, but to date fully effective solutions have not been implemented," Mr Trevan said. "Nationally, just 3 per cent of government funding has gone into mitigation while 97 per cent is spent on recovery. "Lismore has one chance to get this right. For us, it's about getting the final recommendation to the point where our politicians can actually move forward and make the kinds of changes that are needed. "Ultimately, for our kids and our grandkids, we want them to be able to look back at this moment and say that we got it right." Whian Whian resident Patrick Tatam has lived for a decade at the headwaters of a tributary feeding the catchment. When the rain really comes down at his place, two-hourly checks of his rain gauge reveal what's in store for downstream communities including Lismore, Coraki and Woodburn. He is skeptical that anything can be done to protect them. "It is strong and violent."
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Baling anti-flood plan ramps up as RM22.8m Sabo Dam nears 62pc completion, 17 new homes for victims ready by July
BALING, June 29 — The RM22.80 million Sabo Dam in Sungai Kupang near here is expected to be completed ahead of schedule, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said. The dam, which is currently at 62 per cent progress as opposed to the scheduled 20 per cent, will reduce the risk of debris flows that threaten the safety of the 5,000 residents in Baling Town, he added. 'Contractors have given assurances that the project will be completed two months ahead of the original schedule, at the end of next year... it's rare that such a project develops at such a pace,' he told reporters after visiting the project site in his capacity of Kedah state development action council joint chairman near here today. He also shared that the flood mitigation plan in Baling district was at 12 per cent development for Phase 1 and 3.68 per cent for Phase 2 so far, with Phase 1, costing RM9.6 million, expected to be completed in November next year and Phase 2, costing RM118 million, expected to be completed in January 2029. The flood mitigation projects were of utmost importance to the people in Baling as they faced frequent flooding previously, he said. 'In 2024, Baling was hit by 17 incidents of floods... in 2023 only 10 times... according to data from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage,' he said, pointing out that the flood mitigation plan was part of the Federal Government's efforts to tackle the flooding issue in the district. Saifuddin Nasution also visited the location where 17 replacement houses and facilities are being built for victims of the debris flow that hit Kampung Iboi on July 4, 2022. The project, costing RM3 million, is 95 per cent complete, with only the preparation of utilities for the houses remaining, he added. 'It is expected to be done by the third week of July and when it is settled, we will hand the houses to those affected,' he said. — Bernama
Washington Post
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Texas asks voters to approve billions to avoid future water shortages
Lawmakers in the Lone Star state will ask voters to make a Texas-sized investment in the state's water future, as part of a push to stave off looming shortages in one of the fastest-growing corners of the nation. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday afternoon is slated to sign into law a central piece of a legislative package aimed at helping Texas tap into new sources of water over the coming decades, as well as to invest in flood mitigation, conservation and repairs and upgrades to aging infrastructure in many communities.
Malay Mail
16-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Klang River restoration lays bare haunting finds — over 10 bodies including baby discovered since 2022, along with fridges, motorbikes
SHAH ALAM – More than 10 bodies, including that of an infant, have been discovered during the ongoing Klang River Flood Mitigation Project under the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) initiative, shedding light on a grim reality behind the restoration of the river. As reported by Sinar Harian, Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB) managing director, Syaiful Azmen Nordin, said the discovery of bodies is not an isolated incident but has occurred almost monthly since dredging and widening works began on November 1, 2022. 'So far, we have handed over more than 10 bodies to the police and fire department for further investigation,' he was quoted as saying. Aside from the grim finds, the team has also encountered severe pollution, having retrieved various heavy waste items such as refrigerators, lorry tyres, bed frames, mattresses, sofas and even motorcycles from the riverbed. 'I honestly don't understand how a fridge ends up in the river,' he said, describing the current level of pollution as severe and a challenge to the dredging efforts. The mitigation project forms part of SMG's holistic efforts to increase the Klang River's capacity by up to 40 per cent, while also rehabilitating the ecosystem and improving water quality to at least Class III on the Water Quality Index (WQI).
