Review of the Flood Warning Gauge Network within the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils area

The Queensland Government tasked the Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management with undertaking a review of the Flood Warning Gauge Network within the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) area.

Read the Terms of Reference here

The review follows the North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji Severe Weather event commencing 24 December 2025, which highlighted the critical importance of an effective Flood Warning Gauge Network for impacted communities.

The review assessedthe effectiveness of the Flood Warning Gauge Network during this event across the local government areas of:

  • Burke
  • Carpentaria
  • Cloncurry
  • Croydon
  • Doomadgee
  • Etheridge
  • Flinders
  • Kowanyama
  • McKinlay
  • Mornington
  • Mount Isa City
  • Richmond

Scope of the review

The review examines:

  • Rainfall and river height gauge ownership
  • Management and maintenance arrangements
  • Network coverage, reliability, redundancies and data quality.

The review aims to identify gaps, risks and opportunities for improvement.

Engagement and reporting

The Office has worked closely with NWQROC councils, relevant state and federal agencies, and other key stakeholders to gather information to inform the review. 

Submissions for this review were by invitation only. 

The final review report was provided to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.

Questions regarding the review can be directed to the Office on (07) 3029 8813.