Next steps for Carisbrook Levee

Published on 09 August 2023

The final stage of Carisbrook Levee project was completed in June 2023 and Council is now working with our funding partners to confirm a date for an official opening.

The final stage of the levee will be subject to a 12-month defect period from this June completion date.

This project has delivered a significant piece of infrastructure which will mitigate flooding for the township of Carisbrook. Due to the nature of this project and importance this asset has in providing ongoing protection for Carisbrook, Council has commissioned a piece of work to develop a Levee Management and Maintenance Plan.

This plan will outline how Council will manage and maintain the levee efficiently into the future. The work will also identify any operational improvements that could be made to the asset to improve flood mitigation whilst not compromising the intent of the engineering design for this infrastructure.

The final stage of the project has been delivered with project savings. Council has held discussions with funding partners and received in principle support to spend this savings on drainage improvements throughout Carisbrook.

These works will be delivered over coming months with the first project to be delivered in Belfast Road. The works at this location includes installation of culverts across Belfast Road at the Carisbrook Main Drain inlet point and raising of this road to facilitate all weather access along the road. Works are underway and will be completed over the coming weeks.

The previous stage of the levee project has reached the end of its defect period. A final inspection of this stage has been carried out and defects have been found with this work.

In accordance with contract requirements, the contractor will be returning to repair these defects over the coming weeks. This will see works carried out on crossroad culverts on the Pyrenees Highway, with approved traffic management from the Department of Transport in place whilst this is carried out.

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Grace La Vella said it was great to see further works in Carisbrook carried out.

“This project delivers much needed flood mitigation infrastructure to Carisbrook and sees completion of an asset that has been subject to years of ongoing discussions and engagement with the local community.

“Whilst this work provides flood mitigation, due to the nature of the landscape and function of creek system in Carisbrook, full proection cannot be guaranteed from this work, and people should make themselves aware with the local flood management plan.

“Council remains committed to doing everything it can to supporting the Carisbrook community in managing flood mitigation and the work that has recently been commissioned to establish a levee management plan will seek to maintain this asset sustainability into the future.”

Carisbrook CFA Captain and life-time resident of Carisbrook Ian Boucher said that without the levee diverting the water around Carisbrook in the October 22 floods, the township certainly would have got wet feet again.

"It was just amazing the amount of water the levee captured. It's not a magic cure, but it certainly mitigated a lot of that stuff from 2011.

"Last year, if it wasn't there, we would've had a very similar conversation to 2011...It wasn't, but it could've been.

"I wasn't sure about it to be quite honest. I attended every levee meeting that was had in the lead up. But I've seen it in action - we monitored it, the level of it, for 12 hours, being mindful of the fact that it wasn't the full levee. It wasn't even three quarter's finished at that stage, and it's been improved since then."

The Carisbrook Levee project was designed by specialists Entura in response to major floods which occurred in 2010 and 2011.

For more information visit www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/carisbrooklevee