Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council

Restoring flood early warning to a remote community after disaster
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3 Sensors

Bloomfield River monitoring

6 Months

vs 18-month traditional wait

LGAQ Award

Highly Commended

The Challenge

Wujal Wujal, a remote Indigenous community in Far North Queensland, experienced a catastrophic flood event that devastated the township and required full evacuation. The existing level gauge linked to the local siren alert system was washed away in the disaster. Replacing it through conventional channels was going to take up to 18 months - leaving the community without any early warning capability during that entire period.

The Solution

3 monitoring sensors deployed at Bloomfield River Bridge within 6 months

LoRa connectivity solution for remote location with limited infrastructure

SMS alert system developed in partnership with LGAQ Innovation Lab

Community-accessible real-time monitoring dashboard

The Results

The sensors have operated reliably since installation using LoRa connectivity. The LGAQ Innovation Lab's pilot project incorporating the LiXiA data was awarded Highly Commended recognition. LiXiA is currently in discussions to continue providing live dashboard and email alert services following the conclusion of the LGAQ pilot.

What We Deployed

Within six months of the disaster, LiXiA had sensors installed on the Bloomfield River Bridge. The deployment provided water level monitoring to restore early warning capability while the community rebuilt. The LGAQ Innovation Lab used the sensor data to trial an SMS alert system for Community Support Staff, providing direct notifications when river levels changed.

LGAQ Innovation Lab Partnership

The collaboration between LiXiA, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Innovation Lab demonstrated how rapid innovation partnerships can deliver critical infrastructure faster than traditional procurement. The SMS alert system won Highly Commended recognition for its innovative approach to community safety.

Current Status

All sensors remain operational and continue to provide critical flood monitoring for the Wujal Wujal community. The system has successfully operated through multiple wet seasons, providing reliable early warning data for bridge crossing safety decisions.

Need rapid deployment for emergency monitoring?

LiXiA specializes in fast-tracked deployments when traditional procurement timelines don't match the urgency of community safety needs.

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