In a bid to bolster Tasmania’s resilience against future flooding, the state’s three regional natural resource management organisations have launched a new project grounded in the lessons of the catastrophic 2016 floods.
NRM North, NRM South, and Cradle Coast NRM have announced the commencement of the Tasmanian NRMs: Scaling Nature-based Solutions for Flood Resilience and Recovery project. The initiative aims to evaluate and build on a suite of natural landscape rehabilitation efforts that followed the 2016 disaster.
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The project, known as the Flood Resilience Project, will assess the long-term benefits of a range of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) implemented in the aftermath of the floods. These included debris removal, revegetation, riparian fencing, weed control, and the construction of in-stream structures across 20 flood-impacted local government areas.
Louise Foster, CEO of NRM North, said the project represents an important step in developing a robust evidence base for future disaster resilience planning and land management.
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“By thoroughly evaluating the outcomes of Nature-based Solutions across our flood-affected landscapes, we can better understand how Nature-based Solutions can deliver real, measurable benefits, not just for flood resilience and agricultural productivity, but also for the wellbeing of our communities. We hope these insights will help guide smarter investment and policy decisions that support Tasmania’s resilience and prosperity into the future,” she said.
The project will include new trials at three additional flood-affected sites, with a focus on reducing landscape-level risks. NRM South CEO Nepelle Crane said the initiative is vital given the increasing threat of climate-related disasters.
“Tasmania is increasingly at risk from more extreme floods, fires, and drought. The Flood Resilience Project aims to clearly demonstrate how, through the restoration of our natural landscapes, we can reduce the impact of these events and make our communities stronger and more prepared for the future,” she said.
Community engagement forms a central pillar of the project, according to Cradle Coast Authority Regional NRM Manager Bonnie Bonneville. She said the collaborative approach will help ensure the project reflects local needs and priorities.
“Community involvement is at the heart of this project. By working closely with flood-impacted communities and other key stakeholders, we can ensure that Nature-based Solutions are tailored to local needs and deliver lasting benefits for people, agriculture, and the environment,” she said.
The initiative is being undertaken in partnership with NRM Regions Australia, which brings a national perspective to the Tasmanian-led effort.
“We’re excited to be a part of this collaborative project, building and learning from past experience to scale up the use of Nature-based Solutions for flood resilience in Tasmania. The knowledge and experience of the Tasmanian NRM organisations and communities is invaluable for improving our understanding and use of NbS nationally,” said Sarah Hoyal, Nature-led Resilience Program Lead at NRM Regions Australia.
The Flood Resilience Project marks a renewed commitment to using ecological restoration as a means of reducing disaster risk, informed by both science and the lived experience of local communities.
