New project builds on lessons from 2016 floods to strengthen Tasmania’s resilience and recovery
3 July 2025
In a major step to improve Tasmania’s flood resilience and recovery, the state’s three natural resource management (NRM) organisations, NRM North, NRM South and Cradle Coast NRM, are proud to announce the launch of a new project building on lessons learned from the devastating 2016 floods.
The Tasmanian NRMs: Scaling Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Flood Resilience and Recovery project (Flood Resilience Project) will assess the benefits of landscape rehabilitation efforts undertaken in response to the 2016 flood disaster.
This included a suite of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) including debris removal, revegetation, riparian fencing, weed management, and in-stream structural works, which were implemented across 20 flood-affected local government areas.
NRM North CEO Louise Foster said the project would build a strong evidence base to inform future land management and disaster resilience strategies.
“By thoroughly evaluating the outcomes of Nature-based Solutions across our flood-affected landscapes, we can better understand how Nature-based Solutions can deliver real, measurable benefits, not just for flood resilience and agricultural productivity, but also for the wellbeing of our communities. We hope these insights will help guide smarter investment and policy decisions that support Tasmania’s resilience and prosperity into the future,” she said.
Restoration project on the Dasher River including riverbank reestablishment using rock beaching and revegetation activities.
A revitalised stretch of the Meander River, where 10,000 native stems were planted between the river and 1.5 km of newly installed stock exclusion fencing as part of the project.
NRM South CEO Nepelle Crane said the evidence compiled would be used to demonstrate, evaluate and scale-up NbS to reduce landscape-level risks through trials at three additional flood-affected locations as part of the project.
“Tasmania is increasingly at risk from more extreme floods, fires, and drought. The Flood Resilience Project aims to clearly demonstrate how, through the restoration of our natural landscapes, we can reduce the impact of these events and make our communities stronger and more prepared for the future,” she said.
Cradle Coast Authority Regional NRM Manager Bonnie Bonneville said the project’s collaborative approach would ensure local knowledge and community engagement are central to building resilience.
“Community involvement is at the heart of this project. By working closely with flood-impacted communities and other key stakeholders, we can ensure that Nature-based Solutions are tailored to local needs and deliver lasting benefits for people, agriculture, and the environment,” she said.
The Tasmanian project is being delivered in collaboration with NRM Regions Australia.
“We’re excited to be a part of this collaborative project, building and learning from past experience to scale up the use of Nature-based Solutions for flood resilience in Tasmania. The knowledge and experience of the Tasmanian NRM organisations and communities is invaluable for improving our understanding and use of NbS nationally,” said Sarah Hoyal, Nature-led Resilience Program Lead at NRM Regions Australia.
For more information:
NRM Regions Australia Media Release: New national program puts nature at forefront of disaster resilience - NRM Regions Australia
NRM North Project: https://nrmnorth.org.au/water/flood-resilience-project
NRM South Project: https://nrmsouth.org.au/project/flood-resilience-project/
Cradle Coast NRM Project: https://cradlecoast.com/projects/nature-based-solutions/
Restored banks of the Inglis River after the placement of 900 tonnes of rock (rock beaching), planting of 500 native stems (revegetation), and the exclusion of livestock.