The Huonville area has a long history of major flooding occurring in 1901, 1947, 1958, 1960, 1975, 1996, 2016 and 2022.
The Bureau of Meteorology will issue flood warnings for the Huon River, as follows;
| A Minor Flood can | A Moderate Flood can | A Major Flood can |
|---|---|---|
| Be when the Huon river at • Judbury is above 4 meters • Huonville is above 3 metres. | Be when the Huon River at • Judbury is above 5.3 meters • Huonville is above 3.6 metres. | Be when the Huon River at • Judbury is above 6 meters • Huonville is above 4 metres. |
| Spill over river banks and cover nearby low lying areas. | Spill over river banks and cover larger areas of land. | Cause widespread flooding. |
| Cause minor flooding of agricultural and horticultural land along the river flats with some stock losses unless moved. Livestock should be moved from low lying areas near waterways. | Cause moderate flooding of agricultural and horticultural land along the river flats with some stock losses unless moved and damage to fences | Cause widespread and potentially damaging flooding of agricultural land, particularly in low lying areas. |
| Close the Channel Highway at Huonville Cover some minor roads paths, tracks and low level bridges. | As well as closing the Channel Highway, flood low-lying areas of Huonville with the possibility of water damage to some properties. | Also close the Huon Highway between Wilmot Road and Huonville bridge. Depending on the tides, flood the Huon Highway near Clark’s Jetty at North Franklin. Overtop the Tahune Bridge. |
| Come up through drains in nearby streets. Affect backyards and buildings below floor level. | Reach above floor levels in some houses and buildings, particularly along the Esplanade. | Also flood some commercial premises and other properties along Main Road to the south of the roundabout and surrounding areas unless preventative measures are taken, for example, sandbagging. |
| Cover riverside parklands, camping areas and affect the Ranelagh caravan park. | Mean some areas may need to be evacuated. | Properties and large areas may be isolated by water. Affect utility services (power, water, sewage etc). Mean many people may need to evacuate. |
Recent works around Skinners Creek Huonville are designed to help mitigate flood risks in surrounding areas but flooding may still happen in severe rain events. If Skinners Creek overtops, Sale Street and surrounding properties may become flooded.
If Mountain River floods, the areas most at risk of flooding include the Huon Valley Caravan Park, Huonville plus nearby Glen Road and Wilmot Road.
Kermandie River can cause flooding around Geeveston and isolate surrounding areas – see the Geeveston Flood Guide – https://www.ses.tas.gov.au/geeveston-flood-guide/
Huon Valley Council and the State Emergency Service are currently working on flood guides for Huonville and surrounding areas – https://www.ses.tas.gov.au/plan-prepare/flood-plan/
Further guidance:
- Be ready for storms and floods – visual guide
- Home Emergency Plan
- Primary Industry Flood Readiness Toolkit
- Business Tasmania resources on risk management, emergency preparedness and recovery
- Huon Valley Council’s guidance on animals in emergencies
- Huon Valley Council’s Emergency Management Plan
Flood plain mapping of Huonville and environs has been undertaken. Contact the Council for more information about specific properties located within the flood plain.
Current river height levels for the Huon River
Mountain River
The Bureau of Meteorology operates a flood warning system on the Mountain River.
The gauge provides a message to the Huon Valley SES Unit on the increasing river height towards the top end of the river.
Flood plain mapping of the Mountain River has also been undertaken. To find out if a particular property is located within the flood plain, contact the Council.
Geeveston area
Geeveston is subject to flooding from both Rileys Creek and the Kermandie River.
Flooding in December, 1995 resulted in houses in Arve Road and Dover Road areas being flooded.
In December 1995, the Huon Highway at the junction with Scotts Road was flooded, isolating Geeveston and other communities further south.
Cygnet area
The catchment areas feeding Nicholls Rivulet and Agnes Rivulet have the potential to impact on the township of Cygnet.
The areas most likely to be affected are the Cygnet Recreation Ground and the foreshore area previously accommodating Burton’s factory.
Low-lying roads may be impassable and some bridges near the town are susceptible to damage. This could lead to road access isolation for part of the township.