LIFE OR DEATH: Resident urges Council to upgrade, improve Douglas Shire flood cameras

CAMERA CALLS

Michael Warren

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Council's flood cameras were performing well when Newsport checked them a few days ago, but there are calls to continue to make them more resilient, particularly in heavy weather events. Screenshot: Michael Warren

A Douglas Shire resident has urged Council to upgrade, replace and update faulty local flood cameras in the wake of a close call while driving home from work.

The call comes after the Newsport reader allegedly became momentarily trapped on Anich’s Bridge inside her car in recent times due to rising and fast moving flood waters.

The reader said had they been able to clearly view Council’s live camera feed before leaving work they could have made a better, informed decision rather than testing their luck and trying to get across the bridge in heavy, sustained rainfall.

“There’s no doubt the flood cameras across the Shire need improving,” the reader expressed to Newsport.

“I can fully understand that the cameras may go down in heavy weather, but that’s exactly when they are needed – in heavy weather, so Douglas Shire residents can make informed, considered decisions about getting to and from work, or staying somewhere until water has subsided on local bridges.”

Council welcomed the feedback reiterating it’s doing what it can to make the local camera network more reliable and consistent for all Shire residents.

“Council’s flood camera network relies on the 4G network and solar power to operate,” Mayor Scomazzon told Newsport.

“During prolonged periods of wet weather and little sunshine the network can experience outages.  

“To address this, Council have installed a larger solar panel at Barratt’s Creek - completed in March 2024 - and are in the process of procuring back-up batteries and chargers.

“The network sustained damage during the TC Jasper event, this included assets being submerged and aerials being damaged by fallen trees.  

“In some locations, interim fixes were installed to get the cameras back online quickly until the parts were obtained to undertake the appropriate repairs.  

“This is largely the reason for the intermittent outages at Anich’s Bridge and Barratt’s Creek following the TC Jasper event.  The necessary repairs have since been completed and currently all of Council’s flood cameras are working and performing well.

“Council is working with its provider to make the flood camera network more resilient.  

“This includes taller poles in some locations which are less likely to be submerged during flood events and investigating satellite connectivity to replace the reliance on the 4G network in low coverage areas.  

“Investigations into new flood cameras will also be explored as better technology becomes available, especially if it is compatible on a solar set up.”

Those new flood camera considerations is likely to include a future installation in the vicinity of Bonnie Doon Rd, with Cooya Beach residents often caught up and needing to turn to Facebook reports to get anecdotal updates from other locals as to whether the road is safe to cross/drive, in severe, heavy rainfall events.

“Council will investigate additional flood cameras when grant funding opportunities becomes available to grow the current flood camera network,” Cr Scomazzon revealed to Newsport.

 

 

 

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