The Kyogle Local Government Area (LGA) is located in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales.
Kyogle is the main township and is surrounded by a number of smaller rural villages such as Tabulam, Woodenbong, Bonalbo, Wiangaree, Cawongla, Grevillia, Old Bonalbo, and Mallanganee.
The Richmond River and the Clarence River are the two main rivers in the LGA. The Richmond River causes flood issues in Kyogle and the Clarence river causes flooding in Tabulam.
Within the upper reaches of the Clarence River catchment flash flooding can affect;
Within the upper reaches of the Richmond River catchment flash flooding can affect;
Knowing the flood potential of where you live, work and visit in the Kyogle LGA is important to keeping yourself, your family and others safe during floods.
See below to find out more about floods in your area, and steps you can take before, during and after flooding.
Yes you are!
Richmond River has a long history of regular flooding. In February 1954, Kyogle and surrounds experienced a “flood of record’. Significant flooding has also occurred in 1967, 1976, 1987, 1989, 1996, 2008 and 2017.
Flooding in Kyogle begins in the upper catchment where water flows through the small village of Wiangaree approx. 14 km North of Kyogle near the Richmond River. Flooding in these upper reaches is of short duration, but quickly rising flood waters allow little warning time and can cause road closures and transport disruptions.
Most of the urban areas of Kyogle are located on higher ground to the south-east of the junction of the watercourses.
The village of Geneva, located on the western side of the Richmond River, is also mostly on higher ground.
However, in Kyogle, a considerable number of properties in the area known as “The Flats”, are located on flood prone land.
Properties along the western side of Fawcett Street in the north of Kyogle are also subject to flooding.
In Kyogle, flooding is usually of a short duration and predominately affected by the Richmond River. This causes Fawcett's Creek to back up and then flood the low-lying areas of the town. The Richmond River and Fawcett's Creek can peak almost simultaneously.
Residents and businesses need to know their risk and have a plan.
To understand what happens in a Kyogle flood, it is important that all residents and businesses know:
The Kyogle Gauge, located on the Geneva Bridge, is the guide for riverine flood levels that impact Kyogle. It is also important to keep an eye on the Wiangaree Gauge as this flood water flows through to Kyogle and will provide a guide as to how severe the flood will be.
Please click on the Kyogle FloodSafe Guide for local information related to different river heights.
Yes you are!
The village of Tabulam is situated on the upper Clarence River within the Kyogle Local Government Area (LGA). The main source of flooding is from the main river itself, or from the Tabulam Rivulet, which is located immediately north of the village. The Timbarra River, a major tributary which joins the Clarence River 2km downstream, may also contribute with backwater flooding from its own catchment.
The Bruxner Highway travels through the village, splitting the village in two with the land generally sloping down away from the Highway in both directions. There is a natural gully on the southern side which forms a floodway in some large flood events. There are some dwellings on low ground in the gully, however most dwellings and other properties are located on higher ground.
In 1954, Tabulam experienced a ‘flood of record’. Significant flooding has also occurred in 1863, 1976, 2011 and 2013.
Within the Clarence River valley, the rural communities of Paddy's Flat, Bonalbo and Old Bonalbo are very susceptible to isolation due to localised flooding from the top of the Clarence River upstream of Tabulam in Paddy's Flat, from Peacock Creek between Tabulam and Bonalbo, and from localised flash flooding in Bonalbo township itself.
Tabulam will flood again. That's a fact!
To understand what happens in a Tabulam flood, it is important that all residents and businesses know:
The Tabulam Gauge is the guide for riverine flood levels that impact Tabulam.
When a Prepare to Evacuate - Watch and Act is issued
When a Prepare to Evacuate - Watch and Act is issued, you should prepare to evacuate. Staying inside a house, even one which you think is high enough, may be very dangerous. If you are warned to evacuate it is always safest to move to a location away from the flood affected area before floodwater arrives.
When an Evacuate Now - Emergency Warning is issued
When an Evacuate Now - Emergency Warning is issued and you leave your house:
For information on roads, contact your local council for local road closures and Live Traffic NSW for major road closures.
