Launceston Flood Risk Management Act 2015
27Powers of Council in event of flood or imminent flood
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 27
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Launceston Flood Risk Management Act 2015.
27 Powers of Council in event of flood or imminent flood
(1) If a flood is occurring, or is imminent, in the flood-prone area, the Council may exercise any of the following powers:
(a) take the actions necessary to close any drains, or drainage outlets, that drain water into the flood-prone area;
(b) open, close, or erect and close, flood gates, penstocks or similar objects and keep them open or closed as long as is necessary;
(c) if the Authority has opened, in the flood-prone area, flood gates, penstocks or similar objects, direct the Authority to close them and keep them closed for as long as the Council considers necessary;
(d) if flood gates, penstocks, or similar objects, in the flood-prone area are closed, direct the Authority to open them and keep them open for as long as the Council considers necessary;
(e) close, and keep closed for the period the Council thinks fit, or direct the Authority to close, and keep closed for the period the Council thinks fit, any temporary gaps in a levee in the flood-prone area;
(f) close any highway or railway line across, over or under which any levee is constructed;
(g) take action, including (but not limited to including), if it thinks fit, dredging, to assist flood waters from the flood-prone area to drain more effectively from the area;
(h) take action, including (but not limited to including), if it thinks fit, dredging, to mitigate the effect of a flood that is occurring, or is imminent, in the flood-prone area.
(2) If a flood is occurring, or is imminent, in the flood-prone area, the Council may construct or erect on land a temporary structure, including roads, for any of the following purposes:
(a) to enable the taking of any other action under this section;
(b) the prevention of an imminent flood in the flood-prone area;
(c) the mitigation of the effect of a flood that is occurring, or is imminent, in the flood-prone area;
(d) to rescue persons or to protect property in the event of a flood that is occurring, or is imminent, in the flood-prone area.