Newstead levee one step closer following Federal Government funding
Published on 04 August 2023
Mount Alexander Shire Council is in the process of investigating and assessing future flood risk mitigation strategies in Newstead following funding from the Federal Government.
The long-term project will help Council and government authorities identify and address gaps in current flood protection controls. It will also provide options to better support the preparation, design and analysis of future flood risk to reduce the impact of flooding on the community.
Newstead’s location means it experiences flash flooding from heavy rainfall and riverine flooding from the Loddon catchment. Extreme weather poses significant risks to homes and makes the town inaccessible from all directions.
Following funding from the National Emergency Management Agency Disaster Ready Fund, Council will develop the Newstead Flood Study. This project will consider the frequency and severity of flood events in Newstead, as well as the impacts of climate change. The data from the study will inform future design of a new levee.
These future works will reduce the impacts of worsening flood events on Newstead, and reduce the social and economic impacts on the community.
Council has also allocated funding in its 2023/2024 Budget to upgrade the existing flood gate in Newstead. Council is currently considering various options to maximise the effective operation of the gate and enhance community safety. Works on the gate are independent of the study and are scheduled to occur in the current financial year.
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Deputy Mayor and Loddon River Ward Councillor, Matthew Driscoll, said that the upcoming study are important steps towards getting the Newstead levee project on track.
“This is a long-term project that will significantly reduce the impact of flooding on the Newstead community,” said Cr Driscoll.
“Starting with the study means that we’ll have all the information we need to design a levee that meets the needs of the town.
“An upgraded levee will make an enormous difference to the safety and wellbeing of our residents, and we’re pleased to be getting started with this first step.”
The Newstead Flood Study is funded by the National Emergency Management Agency Disaster Ready Fund Round One 2023-2023 and Council’s 2023/2024 Budget.
Read more about Council’s major projects at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/MajorProjects.
For more information contact Council’s Manager of Engineering, Paul Diss, on 5471 1700 or p.diss@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.