Australia: Mackay Doubles Flood Resilience

The biggest upgrade to Mackay’s flood protection in a generation is forging ahead with work on the first of four levee bank upgrades nearing completion.

Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience Minister David Crisafulli said the levees were being raised to double protection for residents from a one-in-50 to a one-in-100 year flood.

“The Bassett Basin levee bank was built in the 1970’s but Mackay residents deserved better,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Work is also about to begin on raising two levees at the Gooseponds and another levee south of Harbour Road which will benefit from an inflatable “Tiger Dam” flood barrier due to arrive soon.”

The levee upgrade project was funded through a $340,000 grant through the Newman Government’s Royalties for the Regions initiative, a key election promise, matched dollar for dollar by the Mackay Regional Council.

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Press Release, May 16, 2014