A research project to minimise flood risks in Northern NSW has been approved by Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt.
The study was first announced by the then Coalition government in March after catastrophic flooding in the NSW Northern Rivers region.
Although supported by the then Labor Opposition, the initiative was paused during the election.
Senator Watt said the $11.2 million Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative will be led by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA) in partnership with the national science agency, CSIRO, and will focus on understanding the impact of climate, catchment and hydrological drivers on flooding.
The first stage of the project will involve a six-month stakeholder engagement program, with a review and assessment of flood mitigation options across seven flood-affected Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers region.
Stage two will provide landscape mapping for all catchments in the region: Richmond River, Brunswick River, Clarence River and Tweed River. Detailed flood modelling and scenario analyses will also be conducted for the Richmond River catchment.
An interim report is expected by November, with a final report due in May 2024.