Damaged levee banks increase flood risk

Published on 28 June 2023

Gannawarra Shire residents living in areas where rural levee banks damaged by the October-December 2022 floods are located are urged to be alert to potential future flood risks.

The affected rural levee banks are located along the Loddon River, Barr Creek, Pyramid Creek, and Murray River.

Since the 2022 flood event, Gannawarra Shire Council has been advocating for breaches to the rural levee banks to be repaired by government.

“Council understands that these rural levee banks are pivotal in protecting residents and their properties from future flood events, and has been constantly advocating to both State and Federal governments the importance of fixing these levee banks,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“Not having these rural levee bank breaches repaired before winter means that any future rain event which creates a rise in river height could lead to re-flooding.”

Emergency services have already been called to respond to a heightened flood risk this month when a recent rise in the Murray River threatened to spill from a levee bank breach in the Benjeroop area.

As a result of the heightened risk in the Benjeroop and Murrabit West area, representatives from Council, the Victoria State Emergency Service, North Central Catchment Management Authority, and Emergency Recovery Victoria met in Kerang on 23 June.

“It is unfortunate that no government agency is responsible for the management of these rural levee banks or funding the necessary repairs,” Mr Rollinson said.

“The meeting did however acknowledge the flood risk to our rural residents and a commitment was given to develop solutions to the current situation, and trigger points for future action.

“In the meantime, the community can be reassured that the situation is being closely monitored and residents living in high-risk locations are urged to be alert and plan for possible re-flooding as we head into what is historically the wettest part of the year.”

Advice on how to prepare for a flood is available by visiting www.ses.vic.gov.au/flood

Council’s submission to the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the 2022 Flood event, which seeks a solution to the issue of rural levee banks, can be viewed at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/floods