Somerset region secures share of $7m flood warning infrastructure under FWIN

A local government area in the state’s southeast that was battered by flooding earlier this year, and severely impacted in 2022, is set to have its flood resilience strengthened.

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has welcomed the Federal Government’s investment in new and upgraded flood warning infrastructure for the Somerset Region. Picture: Supplied.

A local government area in the state’s south east is set to receive new and upgraded assets to strengthen flood resilience with a cash injection from the federal government.

The Somerset region, west of Brisbane, will receive a share of $7 million for new and upgraded flood warning infrastructure under Queensland’s Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN).

The investment from the federal government will see 170 projects planned comprising 260 flood warning infrastructure assets across the 23 councils that were hardest hit by the 2022 Queensland floods.

The Somerset region will receive $365,000 from the $7 million injection to put towards 18 flood warning infrastructure projects.

This will include nine flood cameras across trouble spots in the region, and two rain and river height gauges near Esk and Mount Stanley.

$235,000 will be allocated towards 16 new FWIN assets and $130,000 for two high-priority assets identified by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) as a part of the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Network Program.

This follows after last week’s announcement that the Ipswich City Council would receive $300,000 for 10 projects under the Flood Warning Infrastructure Network.

The planned projects for Ipswich include new flood cameras and a BOM priority rain and river gauge project at Mutdapilly.

Queensland’s Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN) will receive funding for 260 new and upgraded flood warning infrastructure assets across the south east. Picture: Supplied.

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann welcomed the investment and said it would make the Somerset region more disaster ready.

“Access to early and accurate flood warnings can be the difference between life and death,” Mr Neumann said.

“It’s crucial to mitigate risks to motorists and residents in areas prone to sudden flash flooding and road closures.

“That means better flood cameras and other infrastructure, like rain and river gauges, to keep pout community safer in the future”.

The projects intend to address local flood warning needs identified by the council, Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Councils will supply and install assets funded by the federal government through the Emergency Response Fund, as part of a $75 million commitment to the Queensland Flood Recovery and Resilience Package.

Floodwaters inundate the town of Laidley, January 30, 2024. Picture: Anthony Wilson.

Across the region, the Scenic Rim will receive funding for eight flood warning projects, while the Lockyer Valley which was hit hard by flooding in January of this year will receive funding for seven projects.

Originally published as Somerset region secures share of $7m flood warning infrastructure under FWIN