A NEW flood warning system will be established in Lake Macquarie, but concerns have been raised that it will be flawed without back-up communication services.
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The system involves installation of flood gauges and other measures based on thresholds and predictions.
A Lake Macquarie City Council report said the state government provided $120,000 for the project, with the council giving $60,000.
This money included $75,000 on a feasibility assessment, which recommended works for high-priority areas.
New gauges will be built in the Stony Creek catchment, which includes the Blackalls Park-Toronto area.
Existing gauges for the lake are to be upgraded at Valentine and Wangi Wangi, with a new one installed at Gwandalan.
Systems would be established at Dora, Stony, Cockle and Winding creeks in which warnings were issued using measures such as rainfall thresholds, water levels and flood predictions.
The report said the warning system would pinpoint the expected "severity and timing of flooding".
This information would be compiled in "an integrated message system to alert the community".
Councillor Brian Adamthwaite said the warning system would require back-ups for loss of power and telecommunications.
He said the April storm showed this to be the case, with many people having to rely on battery-powered radios for information.
"There needs to be a broader look at communications, so people on the ground can receive warnings," Cr Adamthwaite said.
