New South Wales to benefit from Government funding for flood preparation
05/09/2017 02:44 PM
Today the Minister for Emergency Services, Troy Grant, together with the Minister for the Environment, Gabrielle Upton have announced the launch of the NSW Flood Data Access Program to further enhance flooding preparation and response in NSW.
The NSW Flood Database Access Program, which was developed through the Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP), is managed in partnership between the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. The Program is aimed at centralising all critical flood data captured by NSW Government agencies and stakeholders.
Minister Grant said the funding for this initiative was jointly provided by the Commonwealth and NSW Government in the 2015-16 budget.
The NSW Government has maximised the benefits of public investment in the Floodplain Risk Management Process by providing $1.9 million over four years, allowing the NSW SES to manage the NSW Flood Data Access Program on behalf of Whole-of-Government and the floodplain management sector.
“The Commonwealth and NSW Government is committed to ensuring New South Wales is disaster prepared and disaster resilient before the next storm season hits.
"A key outcome of the program is decision support for improved capability in floodplain risk management, community safety, emergency management and strategic landuse planning, including the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley in Western Sydney, the location of the State’s greatest flood threat”, Mr Grant said.
Minister Upton said the program will improve the sharing of key flood data from approximately 2,000 NSW flood studies within government and other stakeholders, to ensure this information is more broadly available to be considered in decision making.
"It’s vital that we do everything we can to ensure personnel have the support they need to better prepare for flooding and reduce the potential for harm to help make communities safer.
“Outcomes of the program also support national resilience strategies through sharing information with communities to achieve a better understanding of local flood risk”, Ms Upton said.
Media contact: NSW SES Media Unit 4225 7500
