The first stage of the Numurkah flood levee is set to begin, designed to protect Numurkah from the impacts of a major flood event.
Moira Shire Council Administrators have voted to award a contract to Numurkah’s Mick Hogan Excavations to carry out Stage 1 of the project, the northern levee, which is expected to cost about $3.5 million.
Modelling indicates that the new northern levee will likely protect above-floor flooding in 94 properties and will protect a further 466 properties from any flooding during in a 1-in-100-year flood.
Moira Shire Council Chair Administrator Dr Graeme Emonson PSM said flood prevention and protection measures were a high priority for the Numurkah community and a significant focus for Council.
“Awarding this contract is the culmination of a significant amount of work with the Numurkah Flood Mitigation Implementation Committee to design a levee that will protect Numurkah during exceptional flooding events, but also aligns with community expectations as a piece of major infrastructure,” Dr Emonson said.
“The project has gone through extensive investigations, modelling, and design options to get to a ‘shovel-ready’ stage, and it will be an important milestone for the community to see that construction work get underway.
“This is a long-term project to protect Numurkah and will build the community’s resilience for any future flooding emergencies.
“With Stage 1 underway, Council will continue to plan for future stages, including working with state and federal departments to investigate funding opportunities for the next two stages.”
Stage 1 will see construction of the levee from the Goulburn Valley Highway along Needham Street to Station Street, and then follow the existing walking track/levee footprint on the north side of the Broken Creek through to Kinnairds Road.
The levee will be an earthen embankment construction, with concrete walls and demountable metal structures at road crossings and property access points.
As part of the project, detailed designs have been prepared to integrate the levee at the Louis Hamon Park and Rose Gardens and the Melville Street intersection.
Council carried out extensive community consultation on the project in conjunction with the Numurkah Flood Mitigation Implementation Committee.