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https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-come-clean-on-lismores-future-people-and-businesses-have-to-relocate-away-from-the-floodplains-184636>
"More than three months after the monster floods wrecked much of Lismore, there
is still no clarity for the town’s residents and businesses who urgently need
to make investment decisions. Should they move to higher ground, make temporary
fixes, or renovate for the long haul?
The problem is, authorities differ. “The debate is over – we will be doing
engineering work for flood mitigation,” declared Kevin Hogan, the federal
member for Page, as he announced a A$10m CSIRO-led project to study flood
mitigation.
Lismore Council has since recommended “a planned retreat of residential
dwellings” from the highest flood risk areas.
It’s no wonder people in Lismore are confused. Can they stay put and rebuild,
confident the government will stop flood devastation? Or should everyone at low
elevation – including all businesses in the town centre – move? The city’s
44,000 people need clarity.
My view is stopping floods of this size or larger will simply not be viable.
Raising the town’s 10 metre high levee won’t work. To contain the immense
volume of water upstream, we would have to build many expensive new dams.
Instead, we should move all buildings off the floodplains and work to reforest
floodplains upriver to slow the floodwaters."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
