Flood warnings boost
FLOOD warning sirens will be installed in Lowood and Fernvale as part of a state-of-the-art flood warning system to be built in the Somerset.
Ipswich
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FLOOD warning sirens will be installed in Lowood and Fernvale as part of a state-of-the-art flood warning system to be built in the Somerset.
The Somerset Regional Council has awarded Greenspan the contract to build a flood early-warning system in the region, and install evacuation sirens at Lowood and Fernvale.
The council is hoping to have the $750,000 system running before the wet season, with construction of the system set to begin shortly.
Greenspan principal consultant Mark Wolf said the company was committed to delivering its most effective flood warning system for the region.
"We will provide an advanced public flood warning system with the intent of protecting lives," he said.
The system will use existing monitoring equipment in the region, with additional gauging systems installed at Fernvale to provide additional information in the event of flash flooding.
The early warning system will consist of sirens in Fernvale and Lowood, the triggering of SMS warnings and the automatic bulk activation of emails.
"The system has been designed to provide early warnings of early releases of Wivenhoe Dam, an extreme event in the Lockyer Valley, heavy rainfall in the Fernvale catchment that could result in localised flooding and flooding in surrounding areas that could impact on townships downstream of the dam," Mr Wolf said.
Somerset council staff will be able to access maps and data showing water levels, heights of rivers, river flow and the status of system infrastructure within the region from Esk. Emergency services will have access to the flood early warning system data.
Somerset Regional Council Mayor Graeme Lehmann welcomed the introduction of a flood early warning system.
"I'm proud that we have a world renowned company, that has proven success in flood mitigation and early warning systems around the world, building an early warning system for our residents," Cr Lehmann said.
Funding for the system has been provided by the State Government.
DISASTER ALERTS
The Somerset flood early warning system will deliver warnings through:
- SMS warnings
- Bulk emails
- Evacuation sirens in Lowood and Fernvale.
Originally published as Flood warnings boost
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