The Organising Committee of the 30th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium has pleasure in inviting you to Launceston to share your hydrological and water resources experiences. Launceston is Tasmania's second oldest city and in 2006 celebrates its 200 year anniversary. The theme of the symposium is ‘Past, Present and Future’, and we have been fortunate in attracting four high profile speakers to address these themes:

The Past -
Dr Walter Boughton, Honorary Senior Fellow Griffith University

The Present -
Associate Professor Ron Cox, Director Water Research Laboratory, University of New South Wales

The Future -
Dr Rory Nathan, Principal Hydrologist, Sinclair Knight Merz
 
An International Perspective -
Michael D. Patorno, P.E., Manager Civil/Structural and Water Resource Groups, URS, New Orleans Mr Patorno’s expertise is working with federal resource agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers which has a significant role in the re-instatement and re-building of New Orleans after the devastation of the City following Cyclone Katrina in 2005.

Launceston is a city, not unlike New Orleans, where part of the city is surrounded by flood levees. The protected land is in part up to 1.5 metres below high tide. Launceston's levees were built in the 1960s and 1970s, partly as a result of a research trip to the United States and involving visits to US army engineers in Sacramento and New Orleans during 1963 and 1964. Our levee system is reported to have been significantly based upon the New Orleans experience. Some 40 years on from the construction of our levees we are more concerned than ever as to their long term stability should a reasonable flood occur. To date they have generally been untested but there is significant concern about settlement, slip failure, underflow piping and boils and many other issues.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Symposium in December.

Geoff Brayford
Group Manager Infrastructure – Launceston City Council