So this is where Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott wants to increase population density? Oh, dear......

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott stated on 21 June 2013:

A Coalition government will put in place the policies and plans to develop Northern Australia’s potential with more investment, infrastructure, jobs and services…..

If elected, a Coalition government will produce a White Paper on the development of Northern Australia within 12 months of the election…..

Looking to build on existing key urban zones – such as Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and Karratha – with the aim of substantially increasing the population in these areas. To this end, the efficacy and targeting of current relocation incentives and personal and business tax incentives could be reviewed.      

So, under an Abbott-led government there would be sustained population expansion into prime cyclone/flood regions.

What might the experience be like for anyone relocating in the hope of tax incentives? Well it could possibly involve this……

Northern region cyclone tracks and details

Image below: Tropical cyclone tracks for cyclones that formed or moved through the Northern region from 1970 - 2004. (See also: Tropical cyclones since 1906: Search for cyclones by season and location.)

Tracking tropical cyclones for 106 years.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology WA Cyclone History:

The Pilbara coast experiences more cyclones than any other part of Australia. Since 1910 there have been 48 cyclones that have caused damaging wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h in the Karratha, Dampier and Roebourne region. On average this equates to about one every two years. About half of these cyclones have an impact equivalent to a category one cyclone. Ten of these: 1925, 1939, 1945, 1954, Shirley 1966,Sheila-Sophie 1971, Trixie 1975, Chloe 1984, Orson 1989 and John 1999 have caused very destructive wind gusts in excess of 170 km/h*. [my bolding]

Click on graphs to enlarge

Flooding is also a regular seasonal phenomenon in Northern Australia.

Australian Geographic 29 January 2013:

9-17 February 1927 - Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville, QLD 
47 deaths, 16 homes destroyed, an estimated £300,000 in damages
A tropical cyclone hit north of Cairns, causing major rainfall through Queensland, reaching as far as Toowoomba. The torrential rain led to the deaths of 47 people, damaged roads, railways, bridges and buildings - and completely destroyed 16 houses. There was also widespread loss of livestock. The estimated costs reported at the time were in the region of £300,000.

Cairns 1948

Barron River Cairns, flood map 1979

RAINFALL
Town             February Av           6pm (19/2/08)
Cairns           448mm                 394mm
Atherton        304mm                 422mm
Cooktown      354mm                 268mm
Innisfail        595mm                 629mmMareeba       311mm                 439mm

Flooding in Karratah region 2011

Townsville storm surge 2011

Townsville  2012

Darwin 2011

ABC AM 29 December 2011:

The main road linking the Top End of the Northern Territory to southern Australia is expected to re-open later today after serious flood damage on the Stuart Highway.
But it could take months before it's known what kind of environmental damage has been caused by toxic copper concentrate spilt when a freight train was derailed by the floodwaters.
The derailment and spill has prompted questions over the safety of transporting toxic substances including uranium during bad weather in the tropics.

All of which begs the question: How many thousands of dollars each year will the average household/business have to pay in additional taxes to subsidize the basic infrastructure required to accommodate these new northern populations and effect the constant need to repair storm/flood/cyclone damaged road/rail/power/water/telecommunications/community infrastructure?