Big floods hit New South Wales and Queensland. Now, people disagree about how to fix the damage and who pays for it.

新南威爾斯州與昆士蘭州遭受嚴重洪水襲擊。現在人們對於如何修復損害以及由誰出資存在分歧。

In New South Wales, 13 people died in 2022. Experts say new water tanks could help. But these tanks cannot stop all the water. Some people want to build walls. Other people want to move the town to a high hill.

在新南威爾斯州，2022年共有13人死亡。專家表示，新的蓄水池可能有幫助。但這些蓄水池無法阻擋所有水量。有些人想築牆，而有些人則希望將城鎮搬遷至高山之處。

In Queensland, a storm hit the town of Clermont. Many houses had water inside. There were no warnings. People used planes to save people from the water.

在昆士蘭州，一場風暴襲擊了克勒蒙特鎮。許多房屋內部被淹水。當時沒有任何警告。人們利用飛機將受困於水中的民眾救出。

Now, the state and the national government are angry. They disagree about money. The state government wants more money to fix the roads and houses.

現在，州政府與聯邦政府之間關係緊張。他們在資金問題上意見分歧。州政府希望獲得更多資金來修復道路與房屋。

Both places have a problem. They do not know if they should build walls or move the towns. They also fight about money.

這兩個地方都面臨問題。他們不確定應該築牆還是搬遷城鎮，且在資金問題上爭執不休。

Recent events in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales and the town of Clermont in Queensland have shown how difficult it is to manage flood protection and agree on disaster recovery funding.

近期在新南威爾斯州的 Northern Rivers 地區以及昆士蘭州的 Clermont 小鎮所發生的事件，顯示了管理防洪以及就災後復原資金達成共識的困難程度。

In New South Wales, a CSIRO study on the 2022 floods—which caused 13 deaths and about $16 billion in losses—examined whether water detention systems would have worked. The analysis showed that ten strategic systems could have lowered water levels by 2.1 metres; however, this would not have stopped the Lismore CBD levee from overflowing. While the government has started a $3 million feasibility study, people disagree on the best approach. Some officials and residents want engineering solutions, whereas others suggest a 'planned retreat,' which means moving the city center to higher ground or using nature-based solutions to reduce risks.

在新南威爾斯州，CSIRO 針對 2022 年洪水（造成 13 人死亡及約 160 億元損失）的一項研究，探討了蓄水系統是否有效。分析顯示，十個策略性系統可將水位降低 2.1 公尺；然而，這仍無法防止 Lismore CBD 的堤壩溢水。雖然政府已啟動一項 300 萬元的を可行性研究，但人們對於最佳方案仍有分歧。部分官員與居民傾向於工程解決方案，而其他人則建議「有計畫撤退」，即將市中心遷至高地或採用基於自然的方案以降低風險。

At the same time, the town of Clermont in Queensland suffered heavy flooding in January after Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, affecting more than 140 homes. Because there were no early warning systems, private planes had to be used for emergency rescues. Following this, a financial disagreement began between state and federal authorities. The Queensland government has opposed a proposal to change the disaster funding split from 64/36 to 50/50. They emphasized that this change would make it harder for local councils to repair essential infrastructure and move residents to flood-free areas.

與此同時，昆士蘭州的 Clermont 小鎮在一月受前熱帶氣旋 Koji 影響遭受嚴重洪災，影響超過 140 戶家庭。由於缺乏預警系統，當時必須動用私人飛機進行緊急救援。隨後，州政府與聯邦政府之間產生了財務分歧。昆士蘭政府反對將災難資金分攤比例從 64/36 改為 50/50 的提案。他們強調，此項變動將使地方議會更難維修關鍵基礎設施，並難以將居民遷至無淹水風險的地區。

Both regions are currently struggling to choose between building engineering structures and moving urban areas to safer locations, while also dealing with arguments over how to share recovery costs.

這兩個地區目前都在掙扎於應選擇建造工程設施，還是將市區遷至更安全的地點，同時也面臨關於如何分擔復原成本的爭議。

Recent reports and events in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales and the town of Clermont in Queensland have highlighted the complexities of flood mitigation and the subsequent disputes over disaster recovery funding.

近期新南威爾斯州 Northern Rivers 地區與昆士蘭州 Clermont 小鎮的報告與事件，凸顯了防洪工作的複雜性，以及隨之而來的災後恢復資金爭議。

In New South Wales, a CSIRO investigation into the 2022 flood events—which resulted in 13 fatalities and approximately $16 billion in socioeconomic losses—evaluated the efficacy of water detention systems. The analysis indicates that the implementation of ten strategic water detentions (Bundle 2) could have reduced water levels by 2.1 metres; however, such measures would have been insufficient to prevent the over-topping of the Lismore CBD levee. While government representatives have initiated a $3 million feasibility study, stakeholders remain divided. Certain political actors and residents advocate for engineering-based solutions, whereas others propose a planned retreat, suggesting the relocation of the CBD to higher elevations or the adoption of nature-based solutions to mitigate climate-induced risks.

在新南威爾斯州，CSIRO 對 2022 年的洪水事件（導致 13 人死亡，造成約 160 億澳元的社會經濟損失）進行了調查，評估蓄水系統的成效。分析指出，若實施 10 個策略性蓄水池（Bundle 2），水位可降低 2.1 公尺；然而，此類措施仍不足以防止 Lismore CBD 的堤防被淹沒。雖然政府代表已啟動一項 300 萬澳元的可行性研究，但利害關係人之間仍有分歧。部分政治人物與居民主張採取工程解決方案，而其他人則建議「有計劃撤退」，提議將 CBD 遷至高海拔地區，或採用自然導向的解決方案以減輕氣候誘導的風險。

Parallelly, the town of Clermont, Queensland, experienced significant flooding in January following the remnants of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, which impacted over 140 residences. The event was characterized by a lack of early warning systems, necessitating private aviation for emergency extractions. In the aftermath, a fiscal tension has emerged between state and commonwealth authorities. The Queensland government has expressed opposition to a proposed shift in the disaster-funding ratio from a 64/36 split to a 50/50 arrangement, asserting that such a modification would impede the capacity of local councils to execute essential infrastructure recovery and facilitate the transition to flood-free zones.

與此同時，昆士蘭州的 Clermont 小鎮在一月經歷了嚴重洪水，這是受到前熱帶氣旋 Koji 殘餘影響所致，導致超過 140 戶住宅受災。該事件的特點在於缺乏早期預警系統，因此必須依賴私人航空進行緊急撤離。災後，州政府與聯邦政府之間出現了財政緊張關係。昆士蘭政府反對將災難資金分擔比例從 64/36 調整為 50/50，主張此類修改將阻礙地方議會執行必要的基礎設施恢復，並妨礙向無洪水區遷移的進程。

Both regions currently face a dichotomy between the pursuit of structural engineering interventions and the necessity of sustainable urban relocation, compounded by ongoing disputes regarding the distribution of recovery funds.

兩個地區目前均面臨結構工程干預與可持續城市遷徙必要性之間的分歧，且關於恢復基金分配的爭議仍在持續。