With a flood-prone creek on one side and overland tributaries on the other, Campbells Creek residents are well-versed in major flood events, the most recent occurring in 2022.
The Campbells Creek Flood Study, which costs just shy of $200,000, will take about 12 months to complete and will help Mount Alexander Shire Council better understand the impacts and potential solutions to overland flooding in the area.
Council’s director of infrastructure and development, Michael Annear, told the Express that while the council was already in the process of working on the levee, they needed to gain more knowledge of what happened when stormwater flowed through the tributaries and combined with the riverine flooding.
“The study will help the council better understand how to manage stormwater and flows across land, and implement solutions which might include stormwater drainage systems or other improvements,” he said.
“We need to understand all the issues so we can put the work in the right spots.”
During a $95,000 federal funding announcement towards the project last Thursday, MP Lisa Chesters noted that while the Disaster Ready Fund was often over-subscribed, she was not surprised that the Campbells Creek project was successful, largely due to the partnership from all three levels of government.
“Every time we get a lot of rain, people in Campbells Creek get anxious, whether you’re the council, the bowls club, part of the Friends of Campbells Creek, live in the area or have kids at the school, the water can rise very quickly,” she said.
“In October 2022, parts of Campbells Creek flooded, devastating local constituents and community members.
“We know that extreme weather events are happening with higher severity as a result of climate change. That’s why communities need the most accurate information to inform their emergency responses.”
MP Maree Edwards said while it was a planning study, it was an important piece of work to know exactly what was required in the future and to mitigate inundation on properties.
“I’m proud to see this investment in Campbells Creek, which will strengthen our community’s resilience and ensure we’re ready for severe weather events,” she said.
“It has been a long time coming, and there is major work that needs to be done.”
