Flooding and coastal inundation information for properties on the Gawler River, Buttons Creek and other minor waterways. See also the related guide for West Ulverstone.

Version 1.0 January 2026

To see the maps in more detail, see the Tasmanian Strategic Flood Maps.

Know your flood risk and get ready

This area has two main waterways that could flood: the Gawler River and Buttons Creek. There are also smaller creeks and overland flow paths that may flood.

In a major flood, Buttons Creek could flood

• Beach Road and nearby properties on Beach Road and Tucker Street
• Hugo Court
• Properties at the end of Dysons Lane.

The parks and sports grounds in Ulverstone would be flooded, including

• Haywoods Reserve and the Cricket Club on Parsons Street
• Bicentennial Park, Shropshire Park and Anzac Park, along the Leven River
• Ulverstone Recreation Ground and Fairway Park, on Water Street
• The caravan park on Water Street could be flooded if heavy rain falls in Ulverstone.

Heavy rain falling locally could cause flooding throughout the township of Ulverstone. Masons Creek may flood Gawler Road and Adaihi Street south of the highway in Ulverstone. This kind of flooding usually lasts only a short time.

Flooding in the Gawler River could flood driveways, roads and bridges on

• West Gawler Road
• Preston Road, and
• Isandula Road

Flooding in the upper parts of Buttons Creek could flood driveways, roads and bridges on

• Castra Rd
• Edinborough Rd (Abbotsham).

This could mean that properties and communities become isolated, depending on the condition of alternative routes.  

Even if your home is not inundated, you should be prepared for isolation plus potential power and telecommunications outages.

Travel in the area is likely to be difficult or impossible until roads are clear.  If you are safe at home or elsewhere, it is usually best you stay where you are until the flooding subsides, unless there is an emergency. If you need to evacuate, you should leave early, before flood waters rise.

The maps in this guide show the level of flooding that has a 0.5%, 1% and 2% chance of happening any year, known as the Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP). You are likely to experience flooding such as that shown in the maps in your lifetime. Tasmanians need to prepare for flood events that may not happen often as well as the minor flooding they may have experienced.

Go to TasALERT.com or listen to ABC local radio 91.7 FM for warnings and advice.

Are you at risk of flood?

Ulverstone and surrounding areas have been affected by major flooding in 1970, 2005, 2011 and 2016 and 2022. These flood events damaged and destroyed bridges and roads and flooded houses.    

What should I do?

• Check the map to see whether your home or business could flood.
• Assess your home or business and prepare it to minimise possible flood damage.
• Check if you can safely get to your home, work, or school during a flood.
• Prepare your home or business to minimise possible flood damage. There is a guide to help you Get ready for emergencies – see ses.tas.gov.au.
• If you may be isolated and you must have access to services, you may need to evacuate early.

Floods like the one shown in the map, or worse, will occur again. No two floods are the same.

If you live in a low-lying area or near a watercourse, your house may flood. Even if your home is safe, you may need to detour around flooded areas or your road access may be cut. Never drive into or enter flood waters. Roads and bridges may be washed out or unsafe. Avoid travel during floods.

Knowing what to do can save your life and help protect your property. Having a Home Emergency Plan is one of the best ways to prepare. Decide on weather and rainfall triggers for when to act.

Bureau of Meteorology Forecasts, Warnings, and Observations

The Bureau issues a Flood Warning, Severe Weather Warning and/or Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding whenever heavy rain is expected in an area. The time between the warning andheavy rain occurring can vary from an hour to 24 hours or more.

Whenever rain that may lead to flooding in this area is expected, the Bureau will issue:

• A Flood Watch – a “heads up” early advice of forecast weather that may lead to flooding
• A Flood Warning – giving a prediction of when flooding is likely to develop at gauge locations and possibly forecasting the likely peak river level.  Warnings are updated regularly.

There are no formal warning levels for waterways in this area.

Rainfall Observations at Forthside and Sprent can indicate possible flood risks. Given the very short warning times, it is best to act on the predictive BoM warnings rather than wait for any flood alerts during rainfall.

The West Takone Radar is useful to be aware in real-time where heavy rainfall is falling.  Radar Rainfall estimates can also fill in gaps in areas where there are no rainfall stations.

Understand the warnings and key information

Keep aware of what is happening around you. Check forecasts, observations and warnings regularly.

• TasALERT.com
• your local ABC radio station or
• the Bureau of Meteorology’s website.

	Advice (Yellow): an incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.
	Watch and Act (Orange): There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family
	Emergency Warning (Red): An Emergency Warning is the highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.
	Community update (Blue): Specific information and updates for affected communities regarding a particular event or incident.
	Incident (White): an incident is the initial occurrence of an event before it becomes an emergency warning. As soon as an incident is reported, TasALERT publishes basic information including the type and location of incident.

For more information see www.ses.tas.gov.au/warnings/ .

Flood levels

While no two floods are the same, the following describes what you can expect at different flood levels around the area. Even if your property is not flooded, you need to think about access. Different levels of rainfall can cause flooding depending on its intensity, duration and how wet the ground is beforehand and where the rain falls.

Minor flooding

A minor flood can inundate parkland, drainage areas, low lying gardens, paddocks, orchards and farmland as well as riverside and creekside areas in the town of Ulverstone.

If stormwater systems are blocked, local areas of flooding may occur. In coastal areas, if heavy rain or storms occur during a high tide, this can be more common.

There may also be some flooding across minor roads and low-lying streets. Equipment and stock should be moved for their safety, and pets secured.

Moderate flooding

There is more extensive flooding of parkland and agricultural land. Some buildings may flood above floor height. Some properties may be isolated for a few hours as minor roads, driveways and bridges become flooded.

The Gawler River may begin to rise and impact properties on West Gawler Road and Preston Road. Streets and properties near Buttons Creek may begin to flood.

Major flooding        

During a major flood in this area, houses and streets near Buttons Creek and the Gawler River will be at risk.

• Properties on Beach Road and Tucker Street could flood.
• Roads will be closed in the Ulverstone township and the rural areas of Gawler and Abbotsham.
• Production Drive in Ulverstone, and nearby highway ramps may flood.
• Other areas will flood depending on the location and timing of rainfall.

Flooding near the coast may increase if there is a high tide, as drainage is slower and groundwater levels are higher.

There may be flooding in Masons Creek, affecting Adaihi Street and Elizabeth Street south of the highway in Ulverstone.

Major flooding in this area could be as a result of, for example:

• 130mm of rain over 24 hours in Forthside
•  80mm of rain over 6 hours in Forthside
• 150mm of rain over 24 hours in Sprent
• 65mm or rain over 3 hours in Sprent

Know your risk, get ready, reduce risk where you can, connect with others, stay alert and act safe.

Before a flood

1. Know your risk

Flooding often happens in Tasmania and can cause widespread and significant damage. In the past 200 years there have been 78 flood related deaths in Tasmania. This guide is to help you understand flood risk in your area.

2. Prepare your household

Have an emergency plan that covers storms and floods

Thinking about what you would do in a storm or flood means you are more prepared and everyone is safer. Have an emergency plan that everyone in your household understands. There are checklists to help you think through your plan – see Get Ready for Emergencies – A guide for individuals and households to prepare for emergencies. 
Check your plan regularly and test it by everyone in the household thinking through a flooding scenario that may affect your household.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Regularly test batteries in radios and torches.

3. Reduce your risk from flooding where you can

• Think about storms, flooding and other hazards when buying, maintaining or developing property.
• Trim or remove trees and branches overhanging your home, business or near powerlines on your property.
• Keep your gutters and drains clear.

4. Connect with others

Know your neighbours and get involved in your community.  A connected community is a safer and more resilient community in an emergency and can help everyone recover better afterwards. Check that family and neighbours are safe and aware of what’s happening.

During

5. Keep up to date

Keep aware of what is happening around you. Check forecasts, observations and warnings regularly. 

• TasALERT 
• your local ABC radio station or
• the Bureau of Meteorology’s website.

6. Act Safe

• Supervise children.
• Prepare for possible power, water or internet outages.
• Check your emergency kit is ready to go.
• Keep clear of flooded areas such as drains. NEVER walk, play, ride or drive in floodwater. You can’t always see what is under the water or how deep or fast-moving the water is. It is easy to be swept away and drown in as little as 20cm of fast-moving water. Flood water can be dangerous.

When your home may be flooded

• Put household items up high to minimise possible damage.
• Turn off the electricity and gas if it is safe to do so. 
• A great way to stop sewerage flowing back into your home is to place sandbags inside plastic bags and use them to block toilets and cover drains and sinks.
• Leave while you can get out safely.

If you need to evacuate

• Follow the advice from SES / Tasmania Police.  
• Take your emergency kit. 
• Go to friends or family in a safer place or an evacuation centre. 
• Let others know where you have gone.

Look after your animals

You are responsible for your animals in an emergency. If you have pets and other animals it will take you longer to evacuate in a flood or other emergency. Move livestock from flood prone areas well before flood waters may rise.  For more information see

• RSPCA’s guidance on preparing for animals in an emergency
• Huon Valley Council’s advice on preparing an emergency pet plan
• the Primary producer farm flood readiness toolkit.

Avoid travelling during storms and after storms

• Do not go sightseeing. Sightseers delay emergency services and cause accidents.
• Watch out for hazards such as
  • water over roads
  • damaged powerlines
  • landslides
  • damaged roads
  • falling trees or roofing iron.
• Never drive through flood waters. Most deaths and rescues in floods are from people driving through flood waters.
• Drive slowly and turn your headlights on roads not affected by flood waters.

After

• Keep listening for ABC Local Radio updates, road re-openings, community meetings, etc.
• If you left your home, do not return home until SES or Tasmania Police tell you it is safe to do so.
• Be aware of road hazards, such as mud or debris on the road, damaged roads/bridges and crews working on clean-up and repairs.

If your home has been damaged

• Stay at ground level while checking for damage. Be careful of fallen trees, broken glass, loose roofing or other hazards.
• Wear strong boots, gloves and protective clothes. 
• Use a torch, never use matches or candles inside flood affected buildings. 
• Boil all drinking water until you are told the tap water is safe again.
• Do not turn on it is tested by a licensed electrician or gas fitter for safety.
• If your home is damaged and you need to stay somewhere else, take your emergency kit and pets with you
• Take photos of any damage if safe for you to do so and contact your insurance company.
• Supervise children.
• Check neighbours are okay.

For further information go to www.ses.tas.gov.au .

Disclaimer

The maps show potential flooding risks from consistent levels of rainfall across catchments, such as a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP).  In flooding events, rainfall is likely to be more inconsistent across a catchment, so these flood maps should be considered indicative only.  The mapped areas of flood risk show higher probability of inundation. Other areas have lower probability of flooding, but in severe and rare events (rarer than 1% AEP), other lower areas may be also at risk of inundation.

The information in this guide is current at the date of publication. While every effort has been taken to ensure the validity and accuracy of the data presented, the State Emergency Service does not take responsibility for data error or omission. Please see the standard Tasmanian Government’s Copyright and Disclaimer Statement for more details.

Staying informed and further information

Current warnings (TasAlerts)                     TasALERT.com

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)                   bom.gov.au/tas/warnings

Emergency Broadcasters                           ABC 91.7 FM

TASSES Social Media                                facebook.com/sestasmania

Preparing for Flood Emergencies             ses.tas.gov.au/flood-plan/             

Central Coast Council                                 centralcoast.tas.gov.au       64274646

National Relay Service (NRS)                   relayservice.gov.au