The $2.382 million granted from the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will fund the construction of an almost one metre levee along the northern side of Broken Creek, with the expectation it will protect the CBD, schools and areas north of the creek.
Moira Shire Flood Mitigation Implementation Committee chair Wayne Limbrick said the first stage of the plan would make a big difference if there was another flood in Numurkah like 2012, when the town was inundated and isolated, and the hospital damaged beyond repair.
“When 2012 happened there were no levees constructed so all of the protection was (temporary) levee banks and sandbagging, and that is a massive project in a town this size, so getting the northern levee as a fixed structure then allows concentration, if we do get an event before we get the rest of the project done, of the manpower just to manage the southern side,“ Cr Limbrick said.
Moira Shire Deputy Mayor Peter Lawless said flood mitigation in Numurkah had been a major focus of the council.
“My time on council, it’s been our number one priority of infrastructure in the shire for protection,” Cr Lawless said.
“There’s never been a doubt that it didn’t need to be done.”
Federal Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Minister Bridget McKenzie praised Moira Shire Council and the local community for their work on the mitigation plan.
“We recall the houses inundated, the hospital inundated and the length of time that water sat here in the community,“ Senator McKenzie said.
“We’re interested in protecting homes and businesses and hospitals by preparing better for the future.”
Stage two of Numurkah’s flood mitigation plan includes the construction of a levee on the southern side of the creek and another levee behind the hospital.
Stage three would provide protection for Brooke Crt and Ashley Crt.
Cr Limbrick said planning on the second and third stages was well advanced, but would depend on further funding applications being successful.
“You would hope that now the government has committed to this side then the next step really quickly will be, we’ll be applying for the next round, we’ll be applying for funding for the other side,” he said.
“We’re a long way down the track, so once that’s shovel ready then we’re in a position to apply for funding for that (southern) side, certainly within 12 months.”
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