Geoff Lyons (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently I had the opportunity to host Nicola Roxon, Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management, in Launceston. The minister and I met with representatives from the Launceston City Council and the Launceston Flood Authority. We toured the site of the Launceston flood levee project and received an update from the council on the progress of the works.

Since 2007, the Australian government has contributed $19.75 million to the project, which includes construction to rebuild more than seven kilometres of ageing levees. The levee project is funded under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program, which has invested over $24 million in Tasmania since 2009 for projects that assist the state in preparing for disasters. The funding for the flood levee project will ensure that local homes and businesses are protected in the event of a one-in-200-years flood.

The minister and I also took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of federal funding for trials of silt raking in the upper Tamar. As a lifetime resident of the Tamar Valley, I have spent a lot of time sailing, swimming, sweeping surf boats and paddling surf skis on the Tamar River and can see that the raking has made a difference. I know that this is a part of the answer to the silt problem of the Tamar.

It is fantastic that the government has acted to protect the infrastructure, cultural institutions and transport routes in Launceston. I look forward now to further improving the river and opening up the recreation and business opportunities that it presents as a result of the Australian government saving Launceston.