Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Friday I had the pleasure of representing the Deputy Prime Minister at the opening of the stage 2 flood mitigation works in Carnarvon. This is a significant project for the region, with $15 million committed by the federal government and $45 million by the Western Australian state government to reduce future flood damage to vital community infrastructure in Carnarvon. Carnarvon is prone to severe flooding due to the levy banks of the Gascoyne River being unable to withstand severe weather events. In 2010, Carnarvon faced its worst flooding in 50 years, with millions of dollars in damage to homes, plantation crops, pastoral leases, livestock and road infrastructure. The completion of the stage 2 mitigation works will help to ensure that this devastation is not repeated. To achieve this, project construction included a series of four integrated earth and rock levies which cover a total of 16 kilometres, with heights varying between one and six metres. The project also involved irrigation works to protect community assets from water damage. Completion of this project will help to ensure Carnarvon and surrounding areas have the security they need to expand horticulture, urban areas and population. It will also secure a key transport corridor to the Pilbara and expansion of horticulture to the north. I look forward to seeing the local community benefit with a reduction in social and community disruption and a limit to the emotional stress that can often be caused by such extreme weather events.