A Minns Labor Government will invest in a new, world-leading natural disaster detection system to better protect communities in high risk areas of NSW.
Designed and built here in Australia, these advanced early warning systems will use sophisticated sensor technology to predict changing weather patterns in real-time.
Labour leader Chris Milne said this would give local residents time to evacuate safely and direct emergency service workers to the highest risk areas.
“Sadly, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe in our state. These new systems are desperately needed, and long overdue,” he said.
“Labor will work tirelessly to rebuild communities who have been devastated by floods, and give those areas the best possible protections moving forward.”
The $3.3 million investment will offer significantly better early warning for floods and fires compared to existing methods.
Early detection and warning systems will allow for responses to be more accurate, effective and targeted to specific areas in the fastest time possible. Similar systems are already established in other states as well as New Zealand.
The commitment comes after experts on the independent NSW Flood Inquiry warned that current disaster warning systems are outdated and inadequate.
Investigations into last year’s catastrophic floods in areas such as Northern Rivers and Western Sydney highlighted the failure of the state’s existing system of rain gauges.
“Today’s announcement will make a real difference to communities in the highest risk areas,” NSW Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said.
“The people of NSW deserve world-leading protections from natural disasters. That is what this technology will deliver.”
Last year’s floods were Australia’s most expensive natural disaster, with an estimated cost of $5.5bn, leaving communities devastated.
Labor leader Chris Minns will announce the ‘long overdue’ new system in Western Sydney today, where Labor has already pledged a major flood resilience package.
The commitment is just one part of Labor’s plan to make NSW more resilient and protect local communities from natural disasters.
If elected, a Minns Labor Government will:
* Commit $225 million for a Western Sydney Floods Resilience Plan to bolster flood prevention and evacuation infrastructure across Western Sydney.
* Hire an additional 600 new Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters over the next eight years to protect our communities from an ever-present fire risk.
* Draft new rules and streamline planning processes to stop new developments on dangerous Sydney floodplains.
