FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
KOLAN RIVER

Kolan River at Monduran

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated June 2008) Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Flood Warnings and Bulletins Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Classifications Catchment Map

Flood Risk

The Kolan River catchment is located in south east Queensland and covers an area of approximately 3,000 square kilometres. The river rises in the rugged Dawes Range, 100 kilometres northwest of Bundaberg. It meanders for a distance of 70 kilometres, generally in a southeasterly direction, before entering Lake Monduran and passing through the Fred Haigh Dam.

Below the Dam and the Bucca Range, the Kolan River enters a wide coastal plain, generally under large areas of sugar cane cultivation. Gin Gin Creek, its major tributary, rises in the Burnett Range 35 kilometres west of Gin Gin and flows in a easterly direction joining the Kolan River 10 kilometres above Bucca Weir.  Floods normally develop in the headwaters of the Kolan River and Gin Gin Creek and its major tributaries, however, Fred Haigh Dam has a significant effect on reducing major flooding in the lower reaches. Flooding from local area heavy rainfall may still occur in areas downstream of Bucca Weir.

Since the Fred Haigh Dam was completed in 1974, the highest recorded flood at the Dam (March 1977) was of a moderate level only.

Previous Flooding

Previous flood information for the Kolan River is well documented. Monduran has peak heights dating back to 1887, with Molangool dating back to 1967.

Flood Forecasting

The Bureau of Meteorology operates a flood warning system for the Kolan River catchment based on a rainfall and river height observations network shown on the map. The network consists of a number of volunteer rainfall and river height observers who forward observations by telephone when the initial flood height has been exceeded at their station, as well as a automatic telephone telemetry stations at Springfield, Fred Haigh Dam and Gin Gin Creek, which are operated by the Department of Natural Resources and Water. 

The Bureau's Flood Warning Centre issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Kolan River during flood events. Qualitative flood forecasts are issued when moderate flood levels are likely to be exceeded at Molangool and Monduran.

Local Information

The Local Government is able to provide further information on flooding in your area of the Kolan River catchment.

Flood Warnings and Bulletins

The Bureau of Meteorology issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Kolan River catchment regularly during floods. They are sent to radio stations for broadcast, and to local Councils, emergency services and a large number of other agencies involved in managing flood response activities. Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins are available via :

Local response organisations

Internet/World Wide Web

Telephone Weather

Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins

Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins contain observed river heights for a selection of the river height monitoring locations. The time at which the river reading has been taken is given together with its tendency (e.g. rising, falling, steady or at its peak). The Flood Warnings may also contain predictions in the form of minor, moderate or major flooding for a period in the future. River Height Bulletins also give the height above or below the road bridge or causeway for each river station located near a road crossing. 

One of the simplest ways of understanding what the actual or predicted river height means is to compare the height given in the Warning or Bulletin with the height of previous floods at that location. 

The table below summarises the flood history of the Kolan River catchment - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Kolan River catchment Floodwarning network, as shown on the map, are available from the Bureau of Meteorology upon request.

Flood Classifications

At each flood warning river height station, the severity of flooding is described as minor, moderate or major according to the effects caused in the local area or in nearby downstream areas. Terms used in Flood Warnings are based on the following definitions.

Major Flooding : This causes inundation of large areas, isolating towns and cities. Major disruptions occur to road and rail links. Evacuation of many houses and business premises may be required. In rural areas widespread flooding of farmland is likely. Moderate Flooding : This causes the inundation of low lying areas requiring the removal of stock and/or the evacuation of some houses. Main traffic bridges may be closed by floodwaters.  Minor Flooding : This causes inconvenience such as closing of minor roads and the submergence of low level bridges and makes the removal of pumps located adjacent to the river necessary.

Each river height station has a pre-determined flood classification which details heights on gauges at which minor, moderate and major flooding commences. Other flood heights may also be defined which indicate at what height the local road crossing or town becomes affected by floodwaters. 

The table below shows the flood classifications for selected river height stations in the Kolan River catchment.

Catchment Map showing the Kolan River flood warning network