UPDATED: Residents warned to prepare for flash flooding
Published on 12 October 2022
UPDATE, SUNDAY AT 1PM
The City of Launceston is urging people to remain vigilant and to take care around Royal Park and the Seaport area due to the potential inundation of walkways at high tide this afternoon around 6.40pm.
Thankfully, we believe the worst of the flood threat is now behind us and we are delighted that there are currently no reports of inundation of residential housing across the city due to the floods.
Council has reopened both Henry Street and Park Street today, however Royal Park itself remains closed.
The toilet facilities at the First Basin on the West Launceston side are currently closed due to the impacts of flooding on the sewerage pump station.
Work crews will begin progressively reopening the city's flood gates from 6am tomorrow.
However, Council will continue to monitor water levels for any potential impacts on the community.
UPDATE, SATURDAY 2pm
The South Esk River is expected to reach its flood peak in the early hours of Sunday morning.
With high tide due at 6am, residents and business-owners around the Seaport area are asked to remain vigilant.
Council officers have been doorknocking residents and businesses in the area as a precaution.
The Council has closed Park Street due to the risk of inundation in Royal Park later today. There will be water over the pedestrian walkways in Royal Park and Seaport.
Some roads across the North Esk continue to be impacted - for details please see the TasAlert website: https://www.alert.tas.gov.au/
Pedestrians and motorists are reminded of the risks associated with walking or driving through flood waters.
***
State Government Emergency Assistance Grants
The purpose of the Emergency Assistance Grant is to assist impacted people in affected areas, to obtain:
- essential and appropriate shelter
- clothing
- food, transport and/or
- personal items
Website: Department of Premier and Cabinet (dpac.tas.gov.au)
Online Form: Emergency Assistance Grants - Flood Support October 2022 - Department of Premier and Cabinet Tasmania (smartygrants.com.au)
For further information, please contact Community Priorities and Partnerships by emailing grants@dpac.tas.gov.au or phoning on 03 6145 5303.
UPDATE, FRIDAY, 4.30PM
The pedestrian and cycling bridge linking Seaport to Riverbend Park is likely to stay closed for the weekend due to significant water flows down the North and South Esk rivers.
The North Esk River at Newstead peaked at around 8.30am today at similar levels to June 2016.
Newstead residents in Hart Street who were evacuated overnight have since been allowed to return to their homes.
Black Bridge behind Inveresk is also expected to be closed for most of the weekend.
The South Esk is expected to peak later tomorrow afternoon.
At this stage, the Council has no plans to activate the flood gate across the Charles Street Bridge.
Council hopes to re-open Johnston Road later today, however Henry Street and Hoblers Bridge Road may remain closed for most of Saturday.
Henry Street is expected to continue to be impacted around high tide for the next couple of days and may remain closed all weekend.
Council officers will continue to monitor river levels over the weekend as a precaution and will take further action if necessary.
Meanwhile, the State Government has announced that applications are now open for Emergency Assistance Grants for people directly impacted by the floods.
Available to anyone who was forced to evacuate from their home, the grants can assist with buying clothing, food, shelter and personal items.
You can apply for a grant online at https://communitiestas.smartygrants.com.au/EmergencyGrants or by calling the Tasmanian Emergency Information Service on 03 6145 5303.
For more information, including eligibility requirements, go to https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/.../emergency-assistance-grants
***
Due to several issues with the water supply into TasWater’s water treatment plants, Northern residents have been asked to reduce their water usage wherever possible.
TasWater assures residents that the water is safe to drink, and work is underway to address the issues.
People are asked to avoid contact with floodwater as it may contain sewage and other contaminants that can cause infection or debris that can cause injury.
For more information on drinking water, visit the TasWater website: www.taswater.com.au
For more information on rural water supplies and on-site wastewater systems, see the information below.
***
A range of service providers are also available to community members who may require other forms of assistance at this time:
Lifeline Tasmania: 1800 984 434
Lifeline: 13 11 14 (or text 0477 131 114)
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
***
Private water supplies
If your property has been affected by flooding and you have your own private source of water, such as tank water or bore, your source of water may have become contaminated. Flood water can contain microorganisms, debris, and other wastes.
If your water tastes, looks or smells unusual or you are generally concerned do not use this water for drinking, bathing, brushing teeth or for pets. Boiling your water is effective in removing microorganisms, but not chemicals or debris.
Until you know your water is safe, use alternatives such as bottled water or contact a water carter.
When safe to do so, tanks should be checked for any structural damage, debris or dead wildlife, cleaned and disinfected. Other associated fixtures such as downpipes may also need to be cleaned and disinfected.
On-Site wastewater system
If your property has been affected by flooding and you have your own on-site wastewater system, such as a septic tank or aerated wastewater treatment system, your system may have been impacted by flood water.
If you are concerned that your on-site wastewater system may have been damaged, please speak with a person licenced to maintain on-site wastewater systems. If damaged do not use your toilet, shower, kitchen, laundry or any other connections until repaired.
Those with systems connected to a power source where power supply has been cut, the tank can be temporarily used as a holding tank, but will require regular pumping out by a licenced person until the system is repaired.
Contact with any pooled water around the tank should be avoided, particularly by children or pets.
UPDATE, FRIDAY 10.30am
The City of Launceston is not expecting any further significant river level increases in the North Esk today other than the regular ebb and flow between low and high tide.
Council is working closely with the relevant authorities to allow residents to return home to their properties in Hart Street as soon as possible.
The Council evacuation centre at the University Campus at Newnham will remain open at this stage.
Up to 20 people sought refuge at the evacuation centre overnight from various rural locations across the municipality.
Also, Henry Street, Johnston Road and Hoblers Bridge Road are all expected to remain closed for most of the day.
Council hopes to re-open these early tonight once the flood waters have receded. We expect Henry Street to continue to be impacted around high tide for the next couple of days.
While urban areas for the most part been spared from any flash flooding, a number of rural areas across the municipality have been inundated.
This has led to a number of road closures in rural areas (see Tasmania Police website for more details), and we are receiving reports of damage to some infrastructure, including the bridge at Second River Road, which remains closed.
Council officers will be inspecting as many bridges and other associated pieces of infrastructure over the coming days and we ask that anyone that sees any damage to report it to the Council on 6323 3000.
Looking ahead, the South Esk River is expected to peak later tomorrow afternoon.
Our officers will continue to monitor river levels over the weekend as a precaution and will take action if necessary.
The flood gates at Seaport will be closed later today purely as a precaution.
The Council does expect that the Sea Scouts and Navy Cadet facilities at Seaport, as well as all the rowing clubs in the area, will be inundated at some stage.
The playground, barbecue facilities and causeway at the Cataract Gorge area all remain closed at this stage.
With little rainfall expected over the coming 24 to 48 hours, Council's focus will be to support our affected communities with works crews out and about offering assistance to residents.
The State Emergency Service has reiterated warnings that driving conditions may be dangerous. Some roads and bridges may be impacted. Drive to the conditions and do not drive through flood waters. Flood waters are a risk to safety, never walk, play, ride, or drive in floodwater.
The Tasmania Emergency Information Service has been established to provide flood-affected communities with general information throughout the flood events.
You can call 6145 5303 for the cost of a local call.
Community Information:
- For life-threatening emergencies, dial triple zero (000)
- For emergency flood and storm assistance call the SES on 132 500.
- For current river levels and weather conditions, visit www.bom.gov.au/tas/
- For current reported road closures, visit www.police.tas.gov.au
- For more information on preparing for flood, visit www.ses.tas.gov.au
UPDATE: 8pm Thursday, October 13
The City of Launceston has activated an evacuation centre at Newnham after Tasmania Police closed Myrtle Bank Road due to safety concerns following heavy rainfalls across the state this evening.
The T9 building at the University of Tasmania's Newnham Campus - the Uni gym - has been made available for residents cut off by the road closure.
The
Myrtle Park caravan park has also been closed due to safety concerns, with residents encouraged to use the evacuation centre until it is deemed safe to return.
Anyone attempting to gain access through Myrtle Bank Road will be turned around by relevant authorities.
UPDATE: 11am Thursday, October 13
The City of Launceston will close a number of non-critical flood gates along Lindsay Street and behind Inveresk as a precaution, with heavy rainfalls expected later today.
Earlier estimates of 40mm in Launceston overnight failed to materialise, however some areas on the North-West Coast received more than 100mm of rain, prompting several evacuations in the region.
The Weather Bureau is still predicting up to 80mm of rain to fall across Launceston today, however reports of 2016-level flooding across the city have been all-but ruled out.
Council work crews are on standby to assist with any calls for assistance throughout the day.
Meanwhile, several gates behind Hart Street at Newstead may also be closed throughout the day. Council officers letterbox dropped residences in Hart Street with advice on flood safety - again purely as a precaution.
According to the Weather Bureau, strong river level rises are expected along the North Esk River catchment from this morning.
Based on the forecast rainfall, minor flooding may develop along the St Patricks River at Nunamara from late this afternoon.
Minor flooding is likely along the North Esk River at Corra Linn from midday today with moderate flooding possible from late this afternoon.
There is also a minor flood warning in place for the South Esk River between Perth and Longford and around Hadspen and Lake Trevallyn.
FLOOD SAFETY ADVICE:
EARLIER:
Northern Tasmania is preparing for a significant weather event over the next 24 to 36 hours, with intense rainfall and damaging winds expected across much of the region.
The Weather Bureau is expecting this weather event to impact the North from tonight, which may lead to flash flooding overnight and into Thursday.
According to forecasts, we could experience six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 and 60mm, with 24 hour rainfalls during Thursday expected to reach 70 to 120mm.
Saturated soils bring an increased risk of gusty winds toppling trees and power-lines, while heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
It is important to stay vigilant if you need to be out and about over the coming 24 hours, particularly in our parks and reserves.
North to north-easterly winds with damaging gusts, peaking up to 95kmh, are possible during Thursday and becoming more likely into Thursday afternoon and evening. Those winds are expected to ease Friday morning.
At this stage, Launceston is likely to experience some flooding from the North Esk River on Thursday evening into Friday morning and the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary from Friday afternoon and throughout the weekend.
The Council is calling on residents to remain calm and, above all, be prepared.
Our Customer Service team will be open to field calls from 7am Thursday morning.
Council's work crews have been making preparations over the past 24 hours and will be on standby from tonight to assist any members of the public who require help due to flash flooding, which can happen quickly and often without warning.
Remember, in a flash flood, water will rise quickly over a very short period of time.
It's important to be aware of your risk to flooding where you live, have property or work.
There are a number of steps you can take to sure your own safety and that of your family
For more information on flooding, see the SES website: https://www.ses.tas.gov.au/plan-prepare/flood/
While the Council will be providing assistance and advice to residents over the coming 24 to 36 hours, it's important to know just where you can go for the relevant information and advice:
• Check ses.tas.gov.au on how to prepare for storms and flooding
• Check bom.gov.au for the latest weather forecast and warnings.
• Check TasALERT.com for all warnings and road closures.
If you require sandbags, you will need to contact the SES.