Rainfall stations help during floods
Explore Councils by state
Posted on January 3, 2019
Duaringa is one of three places now on the map for real-time rainfall data after installation of a new rainfall station.
Central Highlands Regional Council officers completed the installation in November and two further installations in the Upper Comet and Carnarvon area in early December.
The rainfall stations are part of the Central Highlands Regional Council Flood Warning Network Improvements Project Plan 2018-19 and jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP).
Mayor Kerry Hayes said the project is a great improvement to the region’s rainfall and river height monitoring network, providing effective early warning information to people at risk of flooding.
‘The total cost of works was $251,900, with council receiving a funding contribution of $176,330 under the NDRP, and contributing the remaining $75,570 to ensure the delivery of the project,’ he said.
‘This investment will provide the region with four new rainfall stations, two river height and rainfall stations, upgrades to three rainfall stations and two new road camera systems
‘Filling the gaps in the rainfall and river height monitoring network helps people and visitors in the Central Highlands better understand the flood risk.
‘Data captured by the new stations will also improve flood models and inform better disaster management practices and decision making, about floods and drought and other climate drivers.’
A state-wide review by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the Bureau of Meteorology identified a capital investment of $519,000 to improve the network of rainfall and river height stations for populations at risk in the Central Highlands Regional Council area.
In 2017-18 council installed eight new rainfall stations and completed upgrades to five stations deemed unsuitable after telecommunications failed during TC Debbie in 2017. The new rainfall stations are solar-powered and use radio transmission. Hence, they do not fail with interruptions to the telecommunications or electricity networks during flood events.
Image link.