OCTOBER brought unprecedented rains, landslides and destructive flooding to Tasmania, with a number of record rainfalls set across the 31 days.
Rain gauges were brimmed on a number of occasions, with a large number of Bureau of Meteorology weather stations across the north of the state confirming record falls.
Gray, on the East Coast recorded the highest total rainfall across the month, receiving 543.6mm in a month that saw rainfalls over 50mm occur six times, and reach 100mm twice.
Mount Barrow in the North East received 541mm, eclipsing the average monthly rainfall of 166mm, including 84.4mm on October 13 and 188.8mm on October 14.
Further west, Loongana and Erriba received 490mm and 446mm respectively, the areas under the Western Tiers receiving around 255mm and 210mm across October 13 and 14.
Finally, Sheffield School Farm received 404mm across the month, over four times the average of 93.4mm, which included 104mm and 112mm over that mid-month weekend.
For the month, Tasmania averaged 187.3mm of rain, a 58% increase from the average monthly rainfall, the 14th wettest on record.
Nationwide, Australia had it’s second wettest October on record, Victoria, New South Wales and the Murray-Darling Basin had their wettest October recorded, South Australia their 3rd, Western Australia their 5th and Queensland their eighth.
Landcare backs flood repair
LANDCARE Tasmania is stepping up to help landowners in flood affected areas repair some of the damage.
The organisation has put out a call for volunteers and donations to assist landowners repair Landcare project areas that may have been damaged.
It will use a Tasmanian Landcare Fund grant round to help Landcare projects recover from the impacts of recent flooding.
The aim of the funding round will be to salvage what is possible from recent projects, so that all the hard work invested does not t go to waste.
Current members in affected areas can expect to receive an email in November asking about their Landcare recovery project needs, and whether they need extra volunteers to help.
The organisation anticipates that funds will be allocated to projects in February-March 2023 but organising volunteers for immediate clean-ups will happen as soon as possible.
Donations have already been pledged from the JM Roberts Charitable Trust, and Waratah Wholesale has offered to donate guards and stakes to help replace those that cannot be recovered.
Landcare says it would like to support as many projects as possible so is encouraging Tasmanians to make donations.
Anyone willing to volunteer their time to help with on ground work is also being urged to get in contact.
Activities could include such things as collecting washed-up guards, pulling weeds before they take hold or repairing fences that were protecting revegetation areas.
To make a donation or volunteer go to http://www.landcaretas.org.au