MONITORING OF FLOODS
The Hinchinbrook Shire Council and the Bureau of Meteorology maintain a comprehensive network of rainfall and river height stations throughout the catchment of the Herbert River. A number of manual and semi-automatic stations enhance transmission of this information. Flood predictions and warnings are made in both general and specific terms. The automatic sites transmit data by radio to a Council computer in Ingham on a regular basis. Manual readers at a number of key locations also provide visual river height readings for confirmation of the electronic data. All river heights are measured from riverbed level.
The Bureau categorises flooding as minor, moderate and major, and together with the Council, predicts specific heights and times of the flood at Gairloch Bridge. Knowledge of the flood height at Gairloch allows an assessment to be made of the impact of flooding in the Ingham, Halifax and Lower Herbert areas.
Abergowrie flood heights are taken at Abergowrie Bridge, the deck of which is 10m above bed level. All Ingham and Lower Herbert flood heights are related to Gairloch Bridge which is 4.1m above bed level. Residents should be aware that floodwaters can continue to rise downstream of Ingham and surrounds for some hours after Gairloch has peaked.
During floods, Council vehicles, with two-way radios and operators, are stationed in most major townships for emergency communication purposes. You may obtain information regarding river height data during periods of flooding by clicking on the following link: Hinchinbrook Shire River Height Bulletin or by phoning Hinchinbrook Shire Council office on: (07) 4776 4600.
Information regarding flooding depths can be obtained from Council's Technical Services on phone: (07) 4776 4629. The following Flood Ready Table lists significant heights at Gairloch Bridge and their probable effects around Ingham and downstream. A Locality Plan is attached also for reference to site locations.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Information regarding local road conditions may also be obtained by clicking on the following link: Road Condition Report or by phoning Hinchinbrook Shire Council office on (07) 4776 4600. Further road information can be obtained from RACQ 24-hour road reports by freetoll phone: 1300 130 595, RACQ website 24-hour road reports, the Department of Main Roads' website - http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/publicCR.nsf/DOCINDEX/Your+guide+to+flooding+and+roads and Police sources. The local SES can be contacted on phone: 132 500.
MAPS
Maps indicating major flooding depths on properties in Ingham are available from the Council office and Ingham and Halifax Libraries. You may also obtain a copy of the 10 Year Design Herbert River Flood Inundation Map which shows the expected inundation levels for a 10 year design flood for the Herbert and corresponds to a gauge reading of 12.3m at Gairloch by clicking on the following link: 10 Year Design Herbert River Flood Inundation Map.
Flood Hazard Maps (100 years ARI)
Storm Surge Maps
