Council identifies stormwater improvements
Published on 22 February 2024
Gannawarra Shire Council has identified more than 40 projects that would help improve its urban stormwater network during future urban flooding events.
A report on how flash flooding that occurred during late December 2023 and early January 2024 impacted the municipality’s 71-kilometre urban stormwater network was presented at Council’s February 2024 meeting.
The municipality received 70 per cent of its annual average rainfall in a two-week period, impacting Council’s drainage network, and was significant enough to be declared an emergency event by the Federal Government.
“Flooding resulting from rain on Christmas Day 2023, as well as on 2 January 2024 and 7 January 2024 impacted residents in many ways. This included many properties being inundated and numerous roads cut off, leaving residents unable to leave their homes,” Mayor Ross Stanton said.
“Although we have invested in upgrading stormwater pumps and regular maintenance over many years, we know that more can be done to reduce the impact of future events.”
Council staff have used data collected since the first flash flooding event to identify locations where high volumes of water pool when it cannot drain away, resulting in the identification of 42 projects at Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Murrabit and Quambatook.
The proposed list of projects will be incorporated into Council’s long-term financial planning with a focus on sourcing external funding to complement Council investment to complete these works.
“Like many other Councils, Gannawarra’s older drainage infrastructure was installed prior to modern design standards being implemented and is influenced by a number of factors including pipe sizes, pipe grade and lack of suitable areas for large water detention basins,” Mayor Stanton said.
“These proposed improvements will enable an increased level of service to be provided to mitigate risks associated with these storm events.”
Residents whose home, infrastructure or business was damaged by the recent storm or flooding are encouraged to advise Council of this damage by phoning Council’s Flood Recovery Support Team on (03) 5450 9333 during business hours, visiting Council's Customer Service Centres at Cohuna and Kerang, or completing the form available under the "Have you been impacted by the floods/storms" heading at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/floods
List of proposed urban stormwater improvements
Cohuna
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Location
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Task
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Golf Links Estate
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Install drainage pump and clean drains
|
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King George Street
|
Investigate drainage and pump at Grey’s Bridge to Gunbower Creek
|
|
|
Investigate underground drainage from Grey’s Bridge to Cohuna District Hospital
|
|
Weinburg Street
|
Investigate installing a pump
|
|
Western Road reserve
|
Raise pit lid and clear pipe
|
|
|
Liaise with Goulburn-Murray Water about cleaning Barr Creek
|
|
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Liaise with Goulburn-Murray Water about cleaning drain from Tolls Road
|
Kerang
|
Location
|
Task
|
|
Airport Road/Borough Drive
|
Survey and reform drains
|
|
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Consider larger drains along Airport Road from Borough Drive
|
|
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Consider extra culvert at Airport Road/Borough Drive intersection
|
|
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Consider diverting excess water onto Kerang Aerodrome site
|
|
Brolga Street
|
Investigate to connect Red Gum Drive to Boundary Street to avoid setting up a temporary pump
|
|
Croton Street
|
Install new drainage
|
|
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Check levels of open drains alongside railway line
|
|
Dunlop Street
|
Investigate joining to Murphy Street and increasing pump capacity
|
|
Franke Street
|
Design drainage
|
|
Garvey Road
|
Investigate roadside drainage
|
|
Greenwood Street
|
Investigate possibility of detention basin on railway land
|
|
Hayman Lane
|
Consider second pump and power upgrade
|
|
Leng Street
|
Investigate overflow pipe to Goulburn-Murray Water drain
|
|
|
Investigate increasing the size of penstock valve or pump installation
|
|
Mill Street
|
Investigate improvements (pipe back to main line)
|
|
Mokana Street
|
Consider upgrade to overflow pipe into railway dam (check options for pumping out dam)
|
|
Ninth Street
|
Investigate pump at Murray Street intersection
|
|
Redgum Drive
|
Increase pump and pipe when upgrading Airport Road
|
|
|
Investigate gravity overflow pipe
|
|
Sherwood Drive
|
Investigate underground drainage
|
|
Tate Drive
|
Investigate upgrade pumps to increase capacity and discharge directly into Murray Valley Highway drain
|
|
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Investigate detention basin in reserve
|
|
Wyndham Street
|
Investigate installation of permanent generator
|
|
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Consider replacing diesel pump with electric submersible (after generator)
|
|
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Consider upgrades to pump shed, new switch board and gantries
|
|
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Investigate connections for portable generators
|
|
|
Purchase 150-200mm trailer mounted portable generators
|
Koondrook
|
Location
|
Task
|
|
Blair Street
|
Pump dam into main system or directly into Gunbower Creek
|
|
Caravan Park
|
Road and drainage upgrade (Stage 2)
|
|
Forest Street
|
Install drainage
|
|
Lily Street/Meharry Street/Murray Parade
|
Install drainage
|
|
Tramway Place
|
Investigate drainage in front of motel
|
Murrabit
|
Location
|
Task
|
|
Kerang Road
|
Drainage from golf course under road and to Edgar Road (possible underground past houses)
|
Quambatook
|
Location
|
Task
|
|
Mildred Street
|
Investigate drainage
|
|
Tennison Street
|
Investigate drainage
|
ABOVE: Council staff work to pump water out of Brolga Street, Kerang following flash flooding on 2 January 2024.