Australia: New Levee System for Kerang

Kerang will be better protected from any future floods thanks to a $1.7 million upgrade to the town’s levee system.

At an official opening today, Minister for Water Peter Walsh said a permanent levee had been constructed around the entire town perimeter.

“The improved levee bank will protect the town of Kerang from flooding, as well as an additional two kilometers of state highway,” Mr Walsh said.

“As residents know all too well, Kerang was affected by flooding on three separate occasions throughout 2010 and 2011. The most significant flood was in January 2011, when the town was evacuated for a week due to the risk of levee failure.

“Emergency action was taken at the time to protect the town and its 4,000 residents, including the use of temporary levees, but a long-term solution was needed for future flood events.

“Should a larger than 1 in 100 year flood hit Kerang again, the new levee system will protect the town and will reduce the demand placed on volunteers and emergency workers.

“The project builds on a number of Victorian Coalition Government initiatives to strengthen Victorian communities against flooding impacts, including the $25 million flood warning, repair and improvement program known as ‘FloodZoom’.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to helping rural and regional communities rebuild from the floods of 2010 and 2011 and to be better prepared for future flood events.”

The Victorian Coalition Government provided $500,000 towards the levee, though the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme. The Commonwealth Government also contributed $500,000 through the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme, and Gannawarra Shire allocated $770,000 of its Regional Development Victoria funding to the project.

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Press Release, April 24, 2014