With a report released by CSIRO outlining how future flood levels can be reduced through hydrodynamic modelling, federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan (Nationals) is calling on Labor to act.
Mr Hogan said a scenario that should be modelled is how to reduce two metres from future floods through engineering solutions.
‘Options like building dry retention basins to temporarily hold water back, and letting floodwater get away quicker, should all be part of the solution,’ Mr Hogan said.
‘After the 2022 floods, I secured the funding to get this hydrodynamic model done. This will now move us from talking about flood mitigation to making it a reality.’
‘It covers the entire catchment – from Bungawalbin Creek through Coraki, Eden Creek through Kyogle, and Terania, Leycester and Wilsons through Lismore onto Ballina.’
‘We can’t keep spending billions cleaning up disasters after they happen. We need to invest in solutions that will actually make us safer before the next flood comes,’ he said.
‘Back-of-the-envelope estimates show that we need up to $2 billion to deliver works that would take 2 metres off a flood. The 2022 disaster alone was a $15 billion event. Spending money on prevention saves taxpayer money on the recovery.’
Mr Hogan called on the state and federal Labor Governments to commit to this type of investment.
‘Our community deserves certainty and real protection. The CSIRO has done the work, now it’s time for governments to step up.’
‘Decision-makers will now determine whether the next major flooding event in this region kills people, destroys people’s lives financially, or if the region has been made safer.’
The Echo asked local Labor MP Justine Elliot: ‘Is this type of study in the pipeline for the Richmond electorate?’
She replied, ‘The federal and NSW Labor governments have delivered billions for disaster resilience, recovery and preparedness. I will keep working with my colleagues to ensure our community is better prepared for the future’.
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