New flash flood alert service goes live

Residents of Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek are urged to register to receive flash flood alerts via SMS, email and recorded voice calls (landline) for free, ahead of the coming wet season.

Council, with assistance from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and other government agencies, is launching a new automated flash flood alert system for the villages, following a successful trial last summer.

Council Engineer – Flooding and Stormwater Leon McLean said previous events and Council’s flood risk management studies have shown these areas are subject to flash flooding with little to no warning.

“The small Burringbar Creek and Crabbes Creek catchment areas are not covered by the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) flood warnings, as the time between rainfall and flooding is too short,” Mr McLean said.

“The new Burringbar and Crabbes Creeks flash flood alert service is an automated system that will provide residents with advanced notice of approaching floods.

“The new early warning system was developed following extensive consultation with local residents and lead agencies and we are grateful for everyone’s input on this critical service.”

The system has 2 main components: flood forecasting and alert distribution