Project background
Previous flood risk management studies have shown that the Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes creeks areas are subject to flash flooding with little to no warning. The March 2017 flood event proved this with many people caught unawares by flooding.
Funded under the NSW and Commonwealth Government's Natural Disaster Resilience Program, the flash flood alert system enables residents to prepare their properties and/or evacuate to a safe place prior to the onset of flooding to avoid being caught out by flooding in the middle of the night.
Flooding in Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creeks
- Dignan Street/Hunter Street/Tweed Valley Way areas
- Mooball (both north and south of the railway embankment)
- Crabbes Creek Village
- various rural road crossings (e.g. Greenvale Court culvert)
View the map of flooding areas.
A key consideration for flooding in the area is the lack of warning time. Floods can occur within a few hours of heavy rainfall leaving little or no time for residents to prepare or evacuate.
The small Burringbar Creek and Crabbes creeks catchments are not covered by the Bureau of Meteorology flood warnings as the time between rainfall and flooding is too short. Therefore, Council developed an automated flash flood alert system to provide advanced notice of approaching floods to local residents.
2017 flood damage to Shackles Bridge in Burringbar (image courtesy of Serena V Dolinska)Learn more
Community feedback shaped the development of the flood alert system – read more.
The flash flood alert system has two main components: flood forecasting and alert distribution – learn more.
