Mr HAMPTON - 2007-04-17
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted extreme volatility in rainfall across Australia, including increased flooding events. What measures have been taken to warn residents of Alice Springs of an imminent flood?
Mrs Braham: This is a joke; it did not work.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. We all know the member for Braitling’s response in relation to this. In responding to the great question from the member for Stuart, while the saying goes, ‘You can only call yourself a Centralian if you have seen the Todd River flow three times in your life’, I am sure some of the old timers – and the member for Braitling should be embracing this - did not think it could happen in a space of a few months. When she made her comments a couple of months ago, she called the new flood broadcasting system to be put in place in Alice Springs a total joke and a waste of money, I believe it was a bit immature.
I always thought it was urban myth; every time I come to Central Australia the Todd River has always been dry. It was to my delight, a few months ago when I camped out, and recently, that we did see the Todd River in flow. It is not an urban myth, it does happen.
There were some residents of Alice Springs who were, indeed, anxious a couple of months ago with that heavy rainfall over much of Central Australia where the Todd River flowed through the town early in the morning. Whilst the last major flood in Alice Springs occurred in 1988, we cannot be complacent about it, despite the member for Braitling saying it was a joke.
International evidence on climate change overwhelmingly points to increased variability in weather events in rural Australia, including the arid zones. That is something the member for Braitling should do: pick up the Stern report, have a look at what is happening in climate change, embrace what is going to happen, particularly the impact that it will have in the arid zones.
We cannot be complacent and rest on our laurels. We are a government that is looking at a number of key strategies. We have them outlined in our greenhouse strategy Putting in place a new flood forecasting system for Alice Springs is part of that. My department has introduced new technology, using interstate and international flood forecasting in environments similar to what we see in our arid zones in Central Australia. This new technology will allow forecasters to predict the height of the flow of waters in the Todd River. If the member for Braitling or any of the members in Central Australia would like to look at the maps of what could be the potential if the Todd does flood. When we look at 1 in 50 or 1 in 100 year floods and their impact, particularly with the possibility of other areas, it does pay to be proactive and look at all our options and make sure they are in place.
The new flood forecasting will certainly allow my department to advise Police and Emergency Services if a flood is imminent and the level that it is likely to reach and this, clearly, has huge benefits for residents. If we look at some of our communities in the Top End where the recent floods have been, they have been catastrophic. The impact of those floods that we have seen in Oenpelli and in Katherine can have a huge impact on families and the ability of those communities to recover.
Madam Speaker, I do not consider improving flood forecasting a joke at all, despite the rhetoric that comes from the member for Braitling. I am sure that the people of Alice Springs, when faced with a potential of a flood to come through, if the banks of the Todd River broke - because we do see a lot of rainfall in those catchments, and then the Todd starts flowing as we have seen a couple of weeks ago, and three times in such a short period of time. I am proud to be able to provide, through my department working with the community of Alice Springs and other agencies, with improved flood warnings for residents.
Mrs Braham: This is a joke; it did not work.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. We all know the member for Braitling’s response in relation to this. In responding to the great question from the member for Stuart, while the saying goes, ‘You can only call yourself a Centralian if you have seen the Todd River flow three times in your life’, I am sure some of the old timers – and the member for Braitling should be embracing this - did not think it could happen in a space of a few months. When she made her comments a couple of months ago, she called the new flood broadcasting system to be put in place in Alice Springs a total joke and a waste of money, I believe it was a bit immature.
I always thought it was urban myth; every time I come to Central Australia the Todd River has always been dry. It was to my delight, a few months ago when I camped out, and recently, that we did see the Todd River in flow. It is not an urban myth, it does happen.
There were some residents of Alice Springs who were, indeed, anxious a couple of months ago with that heavy rainfall over much of Central Australia where the Todd River flowed through the town early in the morning. Whilst the last major flood in Alice Springs occurred in 1988, we cannot be complacent about it, despite the member for Braitling saying it was a joke.
International evidence on climate change overwhelmingly points to increased variability in weather events in rural Australia, including the arid zones. That is something the member for Braitling should do: pick up the Stern report, have a look at what is happening in climate change, embrace what is going to happen, particularly the impact that it will have in the arid zones.
We cannot be complacent and rest on our laurels. We are a government that is looking at a number of key strategies. We have them outlined in our greenhouse strategy Putting in place a new flood forecasting system for Alice Springs is part of that. My department has introduced new technology, using interstate and international flood forecasting in environments similar to what we see in our arid zones in Central Australia. This new technology will allow forecasters to predict the height of the flow of waters in the Todd River. If the member for Braitling or any of the members in Central Australia would like to look at the maps of what could be the potential if the Todd does flood. When we look at 1 in 50 or 1 in 100 year floods and their impact, particularly with the possibility of other areas, it does pay to be proactive and look at all our options and make sure they are in place.
The new flood forecasting will certainly allow my department to advise Police and Emergency Services if a flood is imminent and the level that it is likely to reach and this, clearly, has huge benefits for residents. If we look at some of our communities in the Top End where the recent floods have been, they have been catastrophic. The impact of those floods that we have seen in Oenpelli and in Katherine can have a huge impact on families and the ability of those communities to recover.
Madam Speaker, I do not consider improving flood forecasting a joke at all, despite the rhetoric that comes from the member for Braitling. I am sure that the people of Alice Springs, when faced with a potential of a flood to come through, if the banks of the Todd River broke - because we do see a lot of rainfall in those catchments, and then the Todd starts flowing as we have seen a couple of weeks ago, and three times in such a short period of time. I am proud to be able to provide, through my department working with the community of Alice Springs and other agencies, with improved flood warnings for residents.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016