Significant floods occurred in the north and northwest of Tasmania on the traditional lands of the Punnilerpanner peoples, affecting 62 residential properties. The areas affected by this flooding event were similar to the catastrophic 2016 flooding.

What happened

Northern Tasmania experienced four severe weather events through October 2022. These events became Tasmania’s most significant flood since 2016. The storm event of 12–17 October, with extreme rainfall, led to major flooding on the Mersey, Meander, Macquarie, South Esk and North Esk rivers and further widespread flooding in catchments across the Northwest and Northern regions and the River Ouse. Subsequently, there were evacuations of communities along the Gawler, Mersey, Meander, South Esk and North Esk rivers. A dam safety emergency at Lake Isandula on the Gawler River above Ulverstone had the potential to threaten 42 residents below the dam. The record rainfalls (around 400 mm) saw new record peak heights around 14 October, including:

• Meander River at Meander – 3.75 m
• Meander River at Deloraine Train Bridge – 4.44 m
• Meander River at Strathbridge – 9.45 m
• Lake River at Parknook – 4.88 m
• Macquarie River at Cressy Pumps – 5.73 m
• The St. Patricks River at Nunamara – the gauge failed around the time of the flood peak but anecdotally was higher than other known flood events.

The event resulted in widespread damage to properties, businesses, farmland (including crops) and infrastructure.

Impacts and consequences

The storm event and subsequent flooding impacted locations within a similar footprint to the catastrophic floods of 2016. During the October 2022 events, 62 properties were affected. The total population of the areas that were at risk was 25,433. The Insurance Council of Australia estimates the number of claims was 600 and the costs of claims of this flood were $12.4 million.