Levee construction - policies and beyond

Launceston has been known to be susceptible to flooding since the first major flood was recorded in September 1828. Launceston has had several major floods which have caused substantial infrastructural damage and loss of life. Among these, the flood which occurred on 4-6 April 1929 was the most significant experienced during the century in northeast Tasmania. The Launceston City Council (LCC) flood classification system identified the 1929 flood as a one in one hundred year flood event - that is, there is a 1 % chance that a flood of or greater than the magnitude of the 1929 event will occur in a given year. In comparison, the levees protecting Inveresk and Invermay at the time of the 1929 flood were merely capable of withstanding a one in twenty year flood event. The flood caused 22 deaths, left approximately 4500 people homeless, and 1000 homes rendered in need of repair or rebuilding.