FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
NEBINE, MUNGALLALA AND WALLAM CREEKS

Wallam Creek at Homeboin

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated May 2011) 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 Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments are located about 100 to 150 kilometres west of St George in southwestern Queensland and drain an area of approximately 36,000 square kilometres. Mungallala Creek rises in the Chesterton Ranges 50 kilometres northwest of Mitchell. The Nebine and Wallam Creeks rise in an area south of a line between Mitchell and Morven. The small townships of Bollon and Mungallala are the only towns in the catchment.

All three creek systems flow in a southerly direction, parallel to each other for some 250 to 300 kilometres, before crossing the Queensland and New South Wales border west of the town of Hebel. They join the Culgoa River prior to entering the Darling River system upstream of Bourke. 

Floods normally develop in the headwaters area of Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks. However, general heavy rainfall situations may occur throughout these vast catchments. In recent years, the catchments have seen extensive flooding particularly in May 1983, April 1990, February 1997 and in March 2010. The flood of March 2010 produced large scale traffic disruption and residential area inundation. There were also localised communities that required evacutation.

Previous Flooding

Previous flood information for the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments are well documented, with river height records for Homeboin and Tomoo dating back to the 1950's. The record major flood of March 2010 caused widespread traffic difficulties and property inundation.

Flood Forecasting

The Bureau of Meteorology operates a flood warning system for the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks 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. 

The Bureau's Flood Warning Centre issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks during flood events. Qualitative flood forecasts are issued when moderate flood levels are likely to be exceeded. 

Local Information

Local Council's throughout the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments may be able to provide further details of flooding in your area.

Flood Warnings and Bulletins

The Bureau of Meteorology issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments 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 : 

Radio
Radio stations, particularly the local ABC, and local commercial stations, broadcast Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins soon after issue. 

Local response organisations
These include the Councils, Police, and State Emergency Services in the local area. 

Internet/World Wide Web
Flood Warnings, River Height Bulletins and other weather related data is available on the Bureau's Web page at http://www.bom.gov.au . The Queensland Flood Warning Centre website is http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood .

Telephone Weather
Flood Warnings are available through a recorded voice retrieval system, along with a wide range of other weather related and climate information.

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 Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments Floodwarning network, as shown on the map, are available from the Bureau of Meteorology upon request.

Flood Classifications

The table below shows the flood classifications for selected river height stations in the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creek catchments.  

All heights are in metres on flood gauges.

(B) = Bridge  (C) = Causeway  (X) = Crossing

The above details are correct at the time of preparing this document. Up-to-date flood classifications and other details for all flood warning stations in the network are at:

http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/networks/index.shtml

Catchment Map showing the Nebine, Mungallala & Wallam Creek flood warning network

For further information, contact:
The Regional Director, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 413, Brisbane Q 4001