The flood levee in the flood prone North Queensland hamlet of Halifax will be raised to improve the town’s flood resilience.
The State Government will spend $390,000 to raise the levee by 20 centimetres, after flood modelling experts indicated the Lower Herbert River flood patterns had changed since it was constructed.
State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick said the Herbert River Improvement Trust would deliver the upgrade works to the flood levee.
“The Halifax flood levee was constructed in 2006 and has protected the town from flooding during severe weather events in 2009, 2014 and 2018,” Mr Dick said.
“However, flood modelling experts have told the Herbert River Improvement Trust that Lower Herbert River patterns have changed as a result of these floods.
“Changes in the Lower Herbert to ground levels, cropping, transport infrastructure, and the river itself have also collectively increased the area’s vulnerability to flooding.
“River levels are now higher for significant rainfall events, so we’re funding works to raise the levee an extra 20 centimetres to further protect the town of Halifax.”
Halifax was again inundated on December 15 in the wake of tropical cyclone Owen, with the low pressure system dumping a whopping 681mm in the area in just 24 hours.
That was the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in Australia on a December day.
Mr Dick said while the levee had helped to reduce the flood risk, the floods of 2018 showed more needed to be done.
“The Halifax levee has substantially reduced the risk of flood damage for public infrastructure, business and the community of Halifax.
“However, the 2018 floods confirmed the levee’s vulnerability to overtopping in the event of a major flood.
“A key priority of our government is keeping communities safe, and the funding we’re allocating for this project, and others like it around the state, shows we’re delivering on that commitment.”