The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is set to acquire up to 25 flood gauges across the Toowoomba Region in an effort to make the Queensland flood warning infrastructure network more efficient and resilient.
Queensland’s flood warning network features more than 3300 rainfall and river gauges operated by more than 60 entities including State, Local Government and the private sector.
Toowoomba Regional Council owns a total of 43 rainfall and water level gauges in areas prone to flooding, including Oakey, Yarraman, Cooyar, Crows Nest, Jondaryan and the Centenary Bridge at Gore Highway as well as on East, West and Gowrie Creeks in Toowoomba.
Since 2017 the Queensland Reconstruction Authority has secured more than $24.3 million in funding for flood gauges and other flood warning infrastructure through a mix of State and Federal Government funded programs.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald has welcomed the investment by BoM to acquire and maintain approximately 25 gauges as part of the Flood Warning Infrastructure Network Program.
“This acquisition follows months of consultation between Council, Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Bureau of Meteorology to identify the best assets to include in the enhanced flood warning network,” Mayor McDonald said.
“All levels of government are working together to make the region safer and ensure we are better prepared for the natural disasters we will inevitably face in the years ahead,” he said.
“This puts us in a stronger position to both prepare for these events and then recover from the impacts.
“A strong, reliable flood warning network is the best protection against rising flood waters and will give people downstream advance warning which is always welcomed. These improvements may save lives in the future.”
Mayor McDonald said there would also be future maintenance savings for Council when these sites are transferred to the BoM network.
“The maintenance costs of flood gauges are significant, and the Federal Government has recognised this challenge for local Councils and by moving to incorporate this infrastructure into a better national network they are also making it more cost-efficient to maintain which is a win-win for all involved,” he said.
