Riverine and flash flooding information for the Prosser River and surrounding minor waterways

Version 2 October 2025

 To see the maps in more detail, lihat Peta Banjir Strategik Tasmania.

Tasmanians need to prepare for flood events that may not happen often as well as the minor flooding they may have experienced.

When there is heavy intense rain the Prosser River and surrounding waterways can flood

• properties and roadways in and around Orford township
• some properties in areas outside Orford township
• the Tasman Highway and other roads
  • Between Orford and Buckland
  • North of Orford
  • West of Buckland
  • To the South of Orford.

Flood can isolate communities and properties along the coast for a short time, depending on where the rain falls and how heavy it is. All routes in and out of Orford, Buckland and surrounding areas may be cut in a major flooding event.  Flood waters, landslips or fallen trees can also cut backroads, making it dangerous to drive in isolated areas.

Waterways in the area are short, so flooding is likely to be for hours rather than days after rain stops. If you are safe at home or elsewhere, it is usually best to stay where you are until the flooding subsides. If you need to evacuate, you should leave early, before flood waters rise. If you need to evacuate, pick up children from school or travel for some other reason, you should do so early, before flood waters rise.

Flooding around Orford is more likely at high tide. The area is prone to coastal inundation.

The maps in this guide show the level of flooding that has a 1% chance of happening any year due to riverine flooding from

• the Prosser River and nearby minor waterways
• Stormwater run-off (overland flow) from heavy local rain, and
• coastal inundation.

You are likely to experience flooding such as that shown in the maps in your lifetime.

Even if your home is not flooded you should prepare for

• isolation
• potential power and telecommunications outages.

Check TasALERT.com or listen to ABC local radio for warnings and advice –
Triabunna area: ABC Radio Hobart 90.5FM or 936 AM

Note areas outside townships may lack mobile internet and local radio coverage.

Adakah anda berisiko banjir?

Past flooding events around Orford and the Prosser River include:

• June 2016 when up to 220mm fell over 72 hours
• June 2009 when extensive East Coast flooding caused a landslide at Paradise Gorge, and other routes in and out of Orford were cut
• August 1970 when up to 120mm fell in 24 hours
• May 1969 when up to 180mm fell in 48 hours.

Apa yang patut saya buat?

• Check the maps to see whether your home or business could flood.
• Check your home or business and prepare it, to minimise possible flood damage.
• Periksa sama ada anda dapat sampai ke rumah, tempat kerja atau sekolah dengan selamat semasa banjir.
• Sediakan Pelan Kecemasan Rumah. Lihat Bersedia untuk Kecemasan – Panduan untuk individu dan isi rumah bersiap sedia menghadapi kecemasan. 
• 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, 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 flood waters. Roads and bridges may be washed out or unsafe.

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

BoM issues a 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 sometimes more.

BoM may issue a Flood Watch for southern rivers when predicted weather might cause floods over the next couple of days. The Flood Watch may include generalised areas when there is a risk of significant rainfall. 

TasWater operate gauges on the Prosser dams which measure river flow, however, these are too close to the township to provide useful warning information. 

Pemantauan dan Pemerhatian Hujan

The Mt Koonya Radar is useful for real-time situational awareness of where heavy rainfall is falling.  Radar Rainfall estimates help to fill in gaps where there are no rainfall stations.

Rainfall stations at Orford, Triabunna, Buckland, Grindstone north of Triabunna and Nugent may provide useful observations, but rainfall can vary across the area. Tasmania’s East Coast is prone to flash flooding from intense rain so there may be little warning.

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
• how wet the ground is beforehand, and
• where the rain falls.

Orford

Note flooding in places along the Tasman Highway may isolated the Orford area, even in locally more minor events.

In minor flood events

• Riverine flood water and storm water run-off may reach some building floor levels and impact low-lying paths, parks and backyards.
• Livestock in potential flood areas should be moved to higher ground.

Banjir sederhana in and around Orford

• May mean water starts to enter some homes and other buildings
• There is a risk the Tasman Highway near the golf course is inundated.

A major flood event around Orford

• May be for example due to heavy rainfall in the river catchment of about
  • 51mm in 3 hours
  • 74mm in 6 hours
  • 110mm in 12 hours.
  • 197mm in 48 hours
• Is likely to inundate all access routes to/ from Orford, isolating the town
• Isolate parts of the town divided by river crossings
• Inundate low-lying areas of the town around
  • The Esplanade, Gore Street, Cross Street and nearby Walpole Street, plus some parts of Murphy Court
  • Riverside Drive and surrounds
  • the end of Walters Drive and Rudolf Ave
• Cause storm water run-off that may flood other areas of the town, for example.

Buckland and inland areas along the Prosser River and its tributaries

Buckland township is not at risk from riverine flooding, but in the major event:

• Stormwater run-off (overland flow) can affect some properties if there is very heavy intense rain
• The northern and southern sides of the township, and properties to the north along Buckland Road may become isolated for a short time.
• Floodwaters are likely to cut the Tasman Highway to the east and potentially the West of the township.
• Floodwater may impact Stonehurst Road and at least one property.

Areas to the south of Orford

Stormwater run-off (also known as overland flow) may impact parts of

• Shelley Beach
• Spring Beach
• Rheban Road, Wielangta Road and minor roads in the area.

This stormwater runoff is likely to be fast flowing but generally shallow and likely to last only a short time once rain has stopped.

Ketahui risiko anda, bersiap sedia, kurangkan risiko di mana boleh, berhubung dengan orang lain, sentiasa berwaspada dan bertindak selamat.

Sebelum banjir

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

Ketahui risiko anda

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. Familiarise yourself with evacuation routes or higher places that will be safer from flooding.

2.   Prepare your household

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. 

Check your plan regularly and test that everyone in the household understands what would need to happen in a flood.

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.

Semasa

5. Sentiasa terkini

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

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

Fahami amaran dan maklumat penting

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
• Nasihat Majlis Lembah Huon tentang penyediaan rancangan kecemasan haiwan peliharaan
• yang Primary producer farm flood readiness toolkit

Elakkan perjalanan semasa dan selepas ribut

• 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.
• If your home is damaged and you need to stay somewhere else, take your emergency kit and pets with you.
• 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

Amaran semasa (TasAlerts) alerts.tas.gov.au

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

Penyiar Kecemasan ABC 936AM

TAS Media Sosial facebook.com/sestasmania

SES – Persediaan Menghadapi Kecemasan Banjir

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council phone 03 6256 4777

Perkhidmatan Geganti Kebangsaan (NRS)

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.