Hi Everyone,
just a short note to let you know that I have removed all of the guitars from the shop and placed them in safe-storage. Again!
I do this any time that there is even a hint of flooding.
This event has followed a very similar pattern to February (albeit with a lot less rainfall). The weather bureau's response has been similar too - an incremental increase in the forecast rainfall over a couple of days. Whatever computer modelling they use to predict the development of these weather events is clearly rubbish.
It doesn't look like the river will get into the CBD this time, but better safe than sorry.
And I am despairing of the fact that the "authorities" seem to have no intention of undertaking any flood mitigation measures. The town was trashed in February and all that has happened since is a lot of political posturing. There ARE measures that can be taken to reduce the risk, and they are all much cheaper than the restoration costs.
1. Divert Leycester Creek! Leycester Creek actually brings more water into Lismore than the Wilsons River. Diverting Leycester Creek behind the airport has been suggested for 100 years or more, and has actually been approved! After 2017 it was approved and budgeted at $200 million - a lot less than the cost of recovery. But the "authorities" decided that was too expensive.
2. Dredge Wilsons River! If you lower the bottom of the river you also lower the TOP!
3. Re-direct the storm-water channels! It is almost surreal to think that many of the storm-water channels that direct the flow from the hills around Lismore outflow into the river UPSTREAM of the CBD rather than downstream.
4. Build a series of small reservoirs upstream of Lismore to regulate the flow. This is an idea that I was told about that I'm not sure would be effective. But the chap that told me has spent a lot more time than I have studying this subject.
Surely anything that would effect even a small decrease in river levels during a major rainfall event is worth considering?
But the "authorities" seem to think that building a new sports stadium in Sydney has a greater priority than saving a regional town, and all of its citizens and businesses...
OK. That's my first and last venture into the shadow world of politics!!
Your guitars are fine (as always) and I will re-open the shop later in the week.
Andrew
