In Australia, parts of the Northern Rivers region experienced extreme rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 400% of their average monthly rainfall, leading to widespread flooding and significant damage, including loss of life. In response, the Federal Government allocated $150 million under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program to aid recovery and build resilience, addressing both the 2022 event and prior flooding in the region.
Alluvium Consulting contributed to this effort by assisting in the development of a Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA), conducting an economic assessment of flood risk, and performing a cost-benefit analysis for resilience measures where sufficient data was available.

Our work revealed several emerging themes crucial for future resilience. These included a need for a dynamic understanding of flood systems (e.g., better flood gauging and warning systems), a more comprehensive static understanding (e.g., flood mitigation at both catchment and local scales), and greater recognition of nature-based solutions in flood management. The assessment also highlighted the importance of evaluating the region’s economic resilience, focusing on identifying critical infrastructure for long-term sustainability.

The report outlines eight key opportunities for the Northern Rivers region to strengthen flood resilience and improve preparedness for future events.