Riverine flooding and flash flooding information for communities and properties in Launceston outside the levee protected areas

For levee protected areas, see the related flood guides for

• Newstead
• Invermay
• East Launceston and Launceston CBD, and
• Launceston – Margaret St area.

Version 1.0 April 2026

This flood guide is for people in the areas of Launceston not protected by levees.  Even if your home is not flooded, everyone around Launceston would be impacted by a major flood in the city. This guide also covers minor and moderate flooding, plus flash flooding in all areas of the city.

Parts of Launceston can flood from the

• kanamaluka / River Tamar Estuary
• North Esk River
• South Esk River.

There are also some minor waterways that can flood properties and roadways.

Launceston levee protected areas

Launceston’s levees reduce flood risk for many areas along the major rivers. However, there is no guarantee the levees will withstand a major flood. Experiences in other countries show that levees can fail, both gradually and suddenly. If the levees fail, low lying parts of the city may flood quickly. In major floods, people in the levee protected areas should evacuate in case

• the levees fail, or
• flood waters overtop the levees.

Please see the related flood guides for the levee protected areas of

• Newstead
• Invermay
• East Launceston and Launceston CBD, and
• Launceston – Margaret St area.

These guides for the levee protected areas have important information about

• triggers for evacuation in major flood events
• how to evacuate, including evacuation routes to use.

If the North and/or South Esk Rivers may reach certain heights, these areas will have:

• A voluntary evacuation warning – where people are advised to leave for their safety
• A mandatory evacuation warning – where people should leave those areas for their safety, and so gas, electricity and water can be cut for those areas.
• In major flood events, people outside flood prone areas need to be aware that
• Major traffic routes through the city may be cut
• Traffic is likely to be very heavy
• There may be cuts to some essential services, such as water treatment.
• There may be cuts to some other services as major transport routes are cut.

Areas that can flood outside the levee protected areas

Rivers can flood some areas outside the levee protected areas. High tides can also increase water levels in areas closer to the River Tamar.

North Esk River surrounding low-lying areas

• Corra Linn, Patersons Island scout camp and nearby historic fishponds plus some homes
• St Leonards around
  • Station Road
  • Hoblers Bridge Road
  • Waverley Road
  • Ravenswood Road
• Norwood and Newstead areas outside the levee protected area, including the caravan park on Sandown Road (Old Mac’s Farm)
• Waverley – Boomer Road

South Esk and River Tamar low-lying surrounding areas

• Cataract Gorge Reserve – First Basin
• Seaport Precinct
• Kings Wharf area
• West Tamar Highway area

Other low-lying areas exposed to flash flooding/ overland flow

Flash flooding is flooding that happens very soon after heavy rain falls. There can often be little warning aside from a general severe weather warning.  There are many minor waterways around Launceston that can flood quickly. Low-lying areas that can flood due to flash flooding or overland flow include parts of

• Relbia near Jinglers Creek
• Kingsmeadows/ Punchbowl
• Newnham – from flash flooding from Newnham Creek and Barnards Creek
• South Launceston
• Waverley
• Faraday Street from Distillery Creek
• Ravenswood Road from Distillery Creek/ North Esk River.

If there is very intense rain, there can be storm water run-off that can affect buildings and roads in any area.

Areas surrounding Launceston

For information about flooding in surrounding areas, see nearby related guides for:

• Lilydale and surrounds
• Nunamara and surrounds
• Hadspen/ Blackstone Heights

Adakah anda berisiko banjir?

The Launceston area has a long history of flooding.  Since European settlement

• 1852, 1863 and 1893 had serious flood events recorded for Launceston.
• 1929 was the most severe flooding recorded in modern history. Over a thousand homes and buildings were damaged, with some swept from their foundations. The two suspension bridges over the Gorge area were damaged. Four thousand people were evacuated from Invermay, Inveresk and Margaret Street areas. It was not until 1940 that Launceston recovered from the flood. The 1929 floods provided incentive to build the levees.
• 2016 – Launceston prepared for a major flood event and closed some levees. Previous upgrades of the levee system helped avoid losses of about $216 million, had the previous ageing levees failed.
• 2022 – Launceston narrowly escaped a major flooding event.

Apa yang patut saya buat?

• Check the map to see whether your home or business could flood. For more detailed flood maps, see www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Emergency-Management-Hub/1.-Understand-your-risk/Flood to
  • Check the Launceston Flood Maps to assess your level of riverine flood risk.
  • Check the Urban (Stormwater) Flooding Map for flash flooding storm water flood maps.
  • Find out more about Launceston’s flood levees.
• Nilai rumah atau perniagaan anda dan bersiap sedia untuk meminimumkan kemungkinan kerosakan banjir.
• Periksa sama ada anda dapat sampai ke rumah, tempat kerja atau sekolah dengan selamat semasa banjir.
• Sediakan Pelan Kecemasan Rumah. Lihat Bersedia untuk Kecemasan – A guide for individuals and households to prepare for emergencies. If you run a business around Launceston, check out the support by Business Tasmania to prepare for emergencies.
• 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 maps, 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. Be prepared that utility services such as power, gas and water may be lost and there may be interruptions to sewage service. Never drive into or enter flood waters. Roads and bridges may be washed out or unsafe. Avoid travel during floods.

Mengetahui apa yang perlu dilakukan boleh menyelamatkan nyawa anda dan membantu melindungi harta benda anda. Mempunyai Pelan Kecemasan Rumah adalah salah satu cara terbaik untuk bersiap sedia. Tentukan pemicu cuaca dan hujan untuk masa bertindak.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Forecasts, Warnings, and Observations

The BoM issues a Flood Watch when predicted weather might cause floods in the area. A Flood Watch may:

• be for a specific area such as the South Esk River catchment, for example, or
• be generalised such as for Central North river basins

The BoM issue Flood Warnings with specific flood heights for the South Esk and North Esk Rivers.  Flood gauges along the rivers give warnings of

• flood heights, and
• the possible impacts in Launceston.

High tides can also add to flooding.

The Bureau will issue Minor, Moderate or Major flood warnings when the North Esk or South Esk Rivers are likely to reach certain heights.  The table below also shows the trigger levels for SES to issue evacuation warnings due to flooding from these rivers.

River gauge sites	Risih	Moderate	Major flood	Evacuation Critical Decision Points
North Esk River @ Corra Linn	2.7 mAHD 80 m³/s	3.6 mAHD 200 m³/s	4.9 mAHD 419 m³/s Approx. 20% AEP	6.1 mAHD 800 m³/s About 2% AEP Newstead Levee Protected Area (LPA)
South Esk River @ Trevallyn Pond	128.2 mAHD approx. 420 m³/s > 20% AEP	129.9 mAHD approx. 1500 m³/s Approx. 10%AEP	130.9 mAHD approx. 2,000 m³/s Approx. 5% AEP	2250 m³/s Between 2%-1% AEP Invermay /Inveresk Levee Protected Area
				2500 m³/s – Between <1% AEP City /East Launceston Levee Protected Area
				3500 m³/s – Between >1% AEP Margaret Street Levee Protected Area

Notes:

• m³/s (cumec) – one cubic meter of water flowing past a point in one second. One cubic meter of water equals one thousand litres and weighs one tonne.
• Annual Exceedance Probability (%AEP) is the likelihood of such an event happening any given year, based on historical records up to 2016. With climate change, this likelihood is changing.  Updates of this data is underway.
• mAHD – Metres above height datum. This is a local height for the gauging site.

Fahami amaran dan maklumat penting

Sentiasa peka dengan apa yang berlaku di sekeliling anda. Periksa ramalan, pemerhatian dan amaran dengan kerap.

• TasALERT.com
• stesen radio ABC tempatan anda atau
• yang Biro Meteorologi laman web.

	Nasihat (Kuning) Satu insiden telah berlaku. Tiada bahaya segera. Nantikan perkembangan sekiranya keadaan berubah.
	Tonton dan Bertindak (Oren): Terdapat peningkatan tahap ancaman. Keadaan sedang berubah dan anda perlu mula mengambil tindakan sekarang untuk melindungi diri anda dan keluarga anda
	Amaran Kecemasan (Merah): Amaran Kecemasan adalah tahap amaran tertinggi. Anda mungkin dalam bahaya dan perlu mengambil tindakan segera. Sebarang kelewatan kini meletakkan nyawa anda dalam risiko.
	Kemas kini komuniti (Biru): Maklumat dan kemas kini khusus untuk komuniti yang terjejas mengenai peristiwa atau insiden tertentu.
	Insiden (Putih) 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 Riverine flooding from North Esk/ South Esk and Tamar Rivers

North Esk at Corra Linn at least 2.7m

• Agricultural land/ riverside parklands, for example, St Leonards picnic ground
• Possible road closure – Henry Street
• Low-lying properties near the river on:
  • Station Road
  • Henry Street
  • Killafaddy Street
  • Old Mac’s Farm Caravan Park on Sandown Road
  • Western railway line and yards
  • Scotch Oakburn Park and Queechy Park

• South Esk at Trevallyn Pond at least 128.2m
• Agricultural land/ riverside parklands e.g. Cataract Gorge Reserve and Gorge Swimming Pool, Home Point Parade surrounds
• Kings Wharf
• Seaport Home Point Parade low lying areas
• West Tamar rowing club
• Henry Street area
• Flood waters may begin to impact the south-bound lane of the West Tamar Highway, with traffic diverted to alternate routes.

Moderate flooding from North Esk/ South Esk and Tamar Rivers

• Many levee flood gates will close, restricting movement through the city.  Major routes to close across the river include:
• West Tamar Road
• Henry Street

North Esk at Corra Linn at least 3.6m

As per minor flooding, plus

• Station Road roadway and further low-lying properties near the river
• Henry Street further areas and low-lying properties
• Scotch Oakburn College oval/ workshop
• Hoblers Bridge Road and Netball Centre
• Low-lying properties on Killafaddy Road
• Low-lying properties on Glenwood Road
• Bill Grove roadway, Mowbray.
• South Esk at Trevallyn Pond at least 129.9m
• As per minor flooding plus
• West Tamar Highway both lanes diverted through side streets
• Seaport Boulevard
• There will be some impacts around Henry Street and other areas on the lower North Esk River
• 1600 m3/s @ Trevallyn Pond – voluntary evacuation parts of Invermay (see Invermay flood guide)
• Bill Grove roadway, Mowbray.

Major riverine flooding from North Esk/ South Esk and Tamar Rivers

North Esk at Corra Linn at least 4.9m (Approx 20% AEP)

As per moderate flooding, plus:

• Hart St flood levee closed, parts of Invermay levee closed
• Railyard flood gates are closed
• Blessington Road South Esk River crossing
• Further properties on Station Road
• Larmenier School grounds near the river
• Various sewage pump stations may be impacted
• Johnson Road/ Station Road
• 800 m3/s @ Corra Linn- Newstead – Hart St area mandatory evacuation (Approx 2%AEP)
• South Esk at Trevallyn Pond at least 130m (2000 m³/s)
• As per moderate flooding plus
• 2250 m³/s – Invermay Mandatory evacuation – see Invermay flood guide
• 2500 m³/s – Invermay levees may overtop. Mandatory evacuation of parts of Launceston city centre – see the flood guides for Launceston and East Launceston/ Launceston – Margaret Street area,
• Parts of Seaport area, Kings Wharf flooded
• Other areas – flash flooding from minor waterways (1-2%AEP)
• Flash flooding from minor waterways can happen quickly, with little specific warning. Areas at risk include
• Relbia Road bridge and some low-lying properties along
  • Relbia Road
  • Redwood Crescent
  • Oppossum Road
  • Glenwood Road.
• Kings Meadows near Kings Meadows Rivulet, including Hobart Road
• South Launceston low lying areas near Margaret Street/ Bathurst Street, including Midland Highway near the Wellington Street junction, and nearby low-lying properties
• Newstead low-lying roadways and properties, particularly near Robin Street
• East Launceston roadways and properties around Dowling St.
• Newnham, Lilydale Road and Bell Bay railway line at Barnards Creek crossing, plus several properties.

The maps in this guide show the level of flooding that has a 1% chance of happening any year, both with levee protecting some areas, and if the levees fail or are overtopped. They do not show overland flow/ rainwater run-off. Unless there is a severe storm bringing very heavy rain, the main flooding risks for Launceston are from the city’s major rivers.

Launceston’s two major river systems may flood at the same time and may have different levels of flooding during the same event. The kanamaluka/River Tamar is tidal and may also affect the flooding height.

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.

In a major flood event, closed levee gates and flooded roads can cut the city of Launceston in three until waters recede:

1. The Central Business District and areas to the south of the city centre
2. Areas to the North and North East of the North Esk River/ Tamar
3. Trevallyn/ Riverside area to the West and North West of the Tamar River

Depending on rainfall in surrounding areas, there may be alternative routes. However, traffic is likely to be very heavy.

Even if your home is not inundated, you should be prepared for

• major traffic routes through the city to be cut, and
• potential power and telecommunications outages.

If some areas there is a mandatory evacuation order for levee protected areas, electricity, water and gas will be switched off to

• reduce hazards, and
• protect assets so they can be restored as soon as possible after the event.

Travel in the area is likely to be difficult or impossible until

• roads are clear, and
• flood gates are reopened. 

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.

Sebelum banjir

Bersedia untuk Kecemasan – Panduan untuk individu dan isi rumah bersiap sedia menghadapi kecemasan. 

Ketahui risiko anda

Banjir sering berlaku di Tasmania dan boleh menyebabkan kerosakan yang meluas dan ketara. Dalam tempoh 200 tahun kebelakangan ini, terdapat 78 kematian berkaitan banjir di Tasmania. Panduan ini adalah untuk membantu anda memahami risiko banjir di kawasan anda.

2. Sediakan rumah anda

Miliki pelan kecemasan yang meliputi taufan dan banjir

Berfikir tentang apa yang akan anda lakukan semasa ribut atau banjir bermakna anda lebih bersedia dan semua orang lebih selamat. Miliki pelan kecemasan yang difahami oleh semua orang dalam isi rumah anda. Terdapat senarai semak untuk membantu anda memikirkan pelan anda – lihat Bersedia untuk Kecemasan – Panduan untuk individu dan isi rumah bersiap sedia menghadapi kecemasan.

Periksa pelan anda dengan kerap dan uji ia dengan setiap ahli isi rumah memikirkan senario banjir yang mungkin menjejaskan isi rumah anda.

Sediakan Kit Kecemasan

Uji bateri dalam radio dan lampu suluh secara berkala.

3. Reduce your risk from flooding where you can

• Pertimbangkan tentang ribut, banjir dan bahaya lain semasa membeli, menyelenggara atau membangunkan hartanah.
• Potong atau alih pokok dan dahan yang menjulur ke atas rumah, perniagaan anda atau berdekatan talian elektrik di kawasan anda.
• Pastikan saluran air dan perparitan anda bersih.

4. Connect with others

Kenali jiran anda dan libatkan diri dalam komuniti anda. Komuniti yang saling berhubung adalah komuniti yang lebih selamat dan lebih berdaya tahan semasa kecemasan dan dapat membantu semua orang pulih dengan lebih baik selepas itu. Periksa sama ada keluarga dan jiran selamat dan sedar tentang apa yang berlaku.

See for example the Huon Valley Good Neighbour project.

Semasa

5. Sentiasa terkini

Sentiasa peka dengan apa yang berlaku di sekeliling anda. Periksa ramalan, pemerhatian dan amaran dengan kerap. 

• TasALERT 
• stesen radio ABC tempatan anda atau
• yang Biro Meteorologi laman web.

6. Bertindak Selamat

• Mengawasi kanak-kanak.
• Bersiap sedia untuk kemungkinan gangguan bekalan elektrik, air atau internet.
• Pastikan peti kecemasan anda bersedia untuk digunakan.
• Jauhi kawasan yang dinaiki air seperti longkang. JANGAN SESEKALI berjalan, bermain, menunggang atau memandu dalam air banjir. Anda tidak selalu dapat melihat apa yang ada di bawah air atau betapa dalamnya atau derasnya air itu. Sangat mudah untuk dihanyutkan dan lemas dalam air yang bergerak pantas sedalam 20sm. Air banjir boleh berbahaya.

Bila rumah anda mungkin dinaiki air

• Letakkan barangan isi rumah di tempat yang tinggi untuk meminimumkan kerosakan yang mungkin berlaku.
• Padamkan bekalan elektrik dan gas jika selamat untuk berbuat demikian. 
• Cara yang baik untuk menghentikan aliran kumbahan masuk semula ke rumah anda ialah dengan meletakkan beg pasir di dalam beg plastik dan menggunakannya untuk menyumbat tandas serta menutup longkang dan singki.
• Pergi selagi anda boleh keluar dengan selamat.

Jika anda perlu berpindah

• Ikuti nasihat dari SES / Polis Tasmania.  
• Ambil kit kecemasan anda. 
• Pergi ke tempat rakan atau keluarga yang lebih selamat atau pusat pemindahan. 
• Beritahu orang lain ke mana anda telah pergi.

Jaga haiwan peliharaan anda

Anda bertanggungjawab terhadap haiwan anda semasa kecemasan. Sekiranya anda mempunyai haiwan peliharaan dan haiwan lain, anda akan mengambil masa lebih lama untuk berpindah sekiranya berlaku banjir atau kecemasan lain. Pindahkan ternakan dari kawasan yang terdedah kepada banjir **jauh sebelum** paras air banjir mungkin naik. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila lihat

• Panduan RSPCA untuk persediaan haiwan dalam kecemasan
• yang Primary producer farm flood readiness toolkit.

Avoid travelling during storms and after storms

• Jangan melancong. Pelancong melambatkan perkhidmatan kecemasan dan menyebabkan kemalangan.
• Berhati-hatilah terhadap bahaya seperti
  • air di atas jalan
  • talian elektrik rosak
  • tanah runtuh
  • jalan rosak
  • pokok tumbang atau bumbung besi.
• Jangan memandu melalui air banjir. Kebanyakan kematian dan penyelamatan dalam banjir disebabkan oleh orang yang memandu melalui air banjir.
• Pandu perlahan dan pasang lampu hadapan anda di jalan yang tidak dinaiki banjir.

Selepas

• Terus ikuti perkembangan terkini dari ABC Local Radio, pembukaan semula jalan, mesyuarat komuniti, dll.
• Jika anda meninggalkan rumah anda, jangan pulang ke rumah sehingga SES atau Polis Tasmania memberitahu anda selamat untuk berbuat demikian.
• Berhati-hatilah terhadap bahaya jalan raya, seperti lumpur atau serpihan di jalan, jalan/jambatan yang rosak dan kru yang sedang bekerja membersihkan dan membaiki.

Jika rumah anda rosak

• Tinggal di aras tanah semasa memeriksa kerosakan. Berhati-hatilah dengan pokok tumbang, kaca pecah, bumbung yang longgar atau bahaya lain.
• Pakai but kuat, sarung tangan dan pakaian pelindung. 
• Gunakan lampu suluh, jangan gunakan mancis atau lilin di dalam bangunan yang dinaiki banjir. 
• Rebus semua air minuman sehingga anda diberitahu air paip selamat semula.
• Jangan hidupkan bekalan elektrik atau gas sehingga ia diuji oleh juruelektrik atau pemasang gas bertauliah bagi memastikan keselamatan.
• Jika rumah anda rosak dan anda perlu menginap di tempat lain, bawa bersama kit kecemasan dan haiwan peliharaan anda
• Ambil gambar kerosakan jika selamat untuk anda berbuat demikian dan hubungi syarikat insurans anda.
• Mengawasi kanak-kanak.
• Periksa jiran dalam keadaan baik.

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari www.ses.tas.gov.au

Kekal dimaklumkan dan maklumat lanjut

Current warnings (TasAlerts)                     TasALERT.com

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)                  www.bom.gov.au

Emergency Broadcasters                           ABC 91.7FM

TASSES Social Media                                facebook.com/sestasmania

Persediaan Menghadapi Kecemasan Banjir             ses.tas.gov.au/floodplan/               

City of Launceston                                      Launceston.tas.gov.au       6323 3000

                                                                  City of Launceston Emergency Management Hub

Perkhidmatan Geganti Kebangsaan (NRS)                   accesshub.gov.au

Penafian

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.

Maklumat dalam panduan ini adalah terkini pada tarikh penerbitannya. Walaupun segala usaha telah dibuat untuk memastikan kesahihan dan ketepatan data yang dibentangkan, Perkhidmatan Kecemasan Negeri tidak bertanggungjawab ke atas kesilapan atau ketinggalan data. Sila lihat piawaian Hak Cipta dan Pernyataan Penafian Kerajaan Tasmania untuk maklumat lanjut.