Launceston City Council is working with the Tasmanian State Government on a flood management program after limitations were recently identified in the City’s outdated flood levee system. Launceston Mayor, Ivan Dean, said that the Tasmanian Government will assist Council to send staff to New Orleans and Napa in the United States.
“With the State Government joining our Council staff, we will gain a good understanding of the issues that were, and still are, facing the authorities and people of New Orleans and Napa due to their recent devastating floods,” he said. “There is much we can learn from the experiences over there that will help us deal with local issues, including recovery planning, flood management and of course, flood levees.”
Mayor Dean said Tasmanian Premier, Paul Lennon, offered dollar for dollar funding of up to $700,000 to enable Launceston to establish a firm direction and program of works for fixing the ailing levee system.
“It is currently estimated that fixing the levees is a $30 million project,” Mayor Dean said. “This seed funding of $1.4 million will allow the State Government and Council to jointly seek funding from the Australian Government We can then address this issue for the City and the region with a carefully developed and properly costed program to ensure strong and functional flood protection for Launceston.”
