More than 70 stakeholders will gather in Launceston for a flood preparedness exercise.
The exercise will include representatives from the City of Launceston, emergency services, the Launceston Flood Authority, local businesses, not-for-profit organisations and the National Emergency Management Agency.
Launceston Acting Mayor Matthew Garwood said the exercise was an opportunity for different agencies and organisations to share their expertise on flood management, particularly in the recovery phase, and was a timely reminder for residents in low-lying parts of the city to have a flood plan and a household emergency kit.
“The City of Launceston routinely engages in flood readiness exercises, whether it’s our operations crews testing flood gates and pumps, our water team monitoring river levels, or inter-agency preparedness exercises like this,” Cr Garwood said.
“The reason we do this is because Launceston is a flood-prone city.”
There have been more than 40 significant floods in Launceston since record-keeping began.
More than 5000 Launceston residents live in homes protected by levees and more than 400 businesses also operate in levee-protected areas of the city.
“While our flood levee defence system is an incredible piece of infrastructure, it is important for Launceston residents to be aware that the levees are not a guarantee against flood,” Cr Garwood said.
“Exercises like the one we’re holding are important for businesses, non-profit organisations and emergency management agencies to develop strategic and coordinated recovery planning for flood events, but they should also serve as a reminder to residents in low-lying parts of the city to consider their own flood risk and to plan accordingly.”
