City of Hobart Council has secured $1.3 million of Federal funding via the Disaster Ready Fund for work in two vital local projects.
The Council has received $750,000 towards the Hobart Integrated Vulnerability Assessment project and another $550,000 towards the Willow Removal Project.
Council says the Vulnerability Assessment will increase Hobart’s preparedness for climate change by enhancing capacity to understand the community’s exposure to extreme weather events, sea level rise and other climate-related hazards.
Hobart Lord Mayor and Climate Futures Portfolio Chair, Anna Reynolds said this was vital and timely funding for the City.
“There is no bigger issue for any government than tackling the impacts of climate change, and this funding will allow for our Hobart community to be better prepared for the issues we are facing,” Lord Mayor Reynolds said.
“We thank the Australian Government for this vital funding.
“The project will inform planning and action to assess critical assets exposed to climate impacts, and work with stakeholders and community to figure out how risks can be reduced.”
The ultimate goal of the Willow Removal project is to reduce risk of flooding through the removal of willow trees in all of the affected catchment areas across the City of Hobart.
Hobart City Water Portfolio Chair, Ben Lohberger said there were many associated benefits to this project.
“Willows are well known to increase the flood risk of waterways,” Cr Lohberger said.
“We plan to map our waterways for these weeds, giving us a better understanding of our waterways and the condition of areas where willows are present.
“A key part of this project will engage and educate our residents on flood risk and vulnerability.
“This follows on from our recent launch of the Hobart Rivulets health report that assesses the well-being of our rivulets for the first time.”
He said the outcomes from the work will be an important contribution to delivery of a new Hobart Climate Strategy to move toward a zero emissions and resilient Hobart.
Engagement on the Strategy will commence in the second half of 2023.
