Levee banks project timeline

2010

September and November
Significant rainfall led to flooding in the shire.

2011

January
Widespread rainfall and flooding occurs across the state. The shire receives around five times the average January rainfall over five days, leading to major flash flooding.

Sixty-five households, 40 farming properties, 11 commercial properties and 10 Council buildings are damaged. There is also considerable damage to footpaths, trails and recreation reserves.

There is flooding in Campbells Creek, Newstead, Yapeen, Chewton, Guildford, Taradale, Metcalfe, Baringhup Caravan Park and Castlemaine (Gingell Street, Bruce Street and Elizabeth Street).

February
The Victorian Government leads a review of the 2010 Flood Warning and Response.

August
Victoria SES receives funding to develop the Mount Alexander Emergency Flood Management Plan.

2012

February
Further high rainfall and flooding occurs. Most of the 157mm rainfall was over two days. This included 81mm in two hours, considered to be a once in more than 100 year event. Around 110 properties are flooded.

The worst affected properties were in Campbells Creek, Chewton, Maldon, Taradale and Castlemaine (Bruce Street, Berkley Street, Johnston Street, Barker Street, Urquhart Street and Bull Street).

October
The Victorian Government approves a study to undertake the Flood Management Plan.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (North Central CMA) contracts GHD to develop the plan.
 
November
GHD begins its review of available data and historic flood information.

 

2013

January
North Central CMA release an Expression of Interest seeking community members to join a Planning Steering Committee. This committee guides the development of the Flood Management Plan.

Work continues in 2013 and 2014 on hydrological, hydraulic, flood damage and mitigation assessments. These assessments feed into plan recommendations.

2015

March
Community consultation sessions are held in Castlemaine and Campbells Creek. Local residents offer their insights into the Flood Management Plan.

November
Council adopts recommendations of the Flood Management Plan. The plan includes:
  • the development of an Urban Waterways Management Plan
  • an amendment to the Mount Alexander Shire Planning Scheme with updated flood maps
  • an assessment of flood warning system improvements
  • construction of levees and waterway improvements (this project).

2016

March
Council conducts a competitive tendering process. We award the contract for investigation and design of flood mitigation treatments to Cardno Victoria.

April to May
Cardno began geotechnical investigation site works.

July and November
Community consultation is held with Gingell Street residents about levee design.

2017

March
We receive a draft plan for proposed waterway improvement works downstream of Alexandra Street Bridge at Campbells Creek.

June
Cardno issue levee design drawings for public consultation. Community drop-in sessions are held in Castlemaine and Campbells Creek.

Residents offer input into the proposed designs for Castlemaine and Campbells Creek.

2018

February
Councillors endorsed the designs for Central Cabin and Van Park, Elizabeth Street, Campbells Creek Township and National School Lane levees.

They also endorse waterway improvement activity downstream of the Alexandra Street Bridge in Campbells Creek.

Councillors also endorse the need for further community consultation for levees in Gingell Street in Castlemaine.

Councillors endorse the Newstead levee as part of a separate design contract.

October
Council adopt the C082 planning amendment to manage flood risk and the Castlemaine Urban Waterways Management Plan at its Ordinary Meeting of Council.

2019

March
The Minister for Planning approves the amendment (C082) to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme.
The amendment incorporates new flood mapping boundaries and planning overlays in flood prone areas in Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton.

April
A funding agreement is approved between Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). This allows for permits and approvals for construction of levee banks and waterway improvements.

August
Council began work to prepare the project for construction (the Development phase).

2020

January
Work commences to liaise and engage with local businesses, residents and relevant stakeholders to update them on the current phase of the project.

2021

January 

The Campbells Creek levee has a sewer in the crown land reserve. The conceptual levee design is to be constructed very close to it. Liaise with Coliban to clarify the limitation of conducting works close to the sewer and inform the detailed design of these limitations.

December

Received formal notification from DELWP that they have received federal funding for the Castlemaine and Campbells Creek Levee Banks project as part of the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program (NFMIP).

Cultural Heritage Management Plan approved by Dja Dja Wurrung's (RAP) CEO, Mr Rodney Carter.

 

2022

July 

Received final draft of the biodiversity assessment.

2023

June

Awarded levee bank detailed design to contractor.

October

Design Consultant had completed Gap Analysis for all four levees.

Feature survey of National School Lane Levee underway.

November

Title re-establishment survey was completed for Main Road Campbells Creek residents

December

Geotechnical investigations at the National School Lane Levee site were completed

 

2024

February

Geotechnical investigations at the Elizabeth Street site were completed

Arborist Report completed for National School Lane Levee site

Preliminary options assessments and modelling completed by design consultants

March

Service utilities location is completed for Elizabeth Street and Cabin and Van Park levee sites

Geotechnical investigations at the Elizabeth Street site was completed

April

Service utilities location is completed for Main Rd Campbells Creek levee sites

Geotechnical investigations at the Cabin & Van Park Levee site was completed

Feature survey were completed for Elizabeth Street and Cabin & Van Park Levee sites

Draft final design for National School Lane Levee under review

The ecologist’s and arborist’s field investigations were completed

May

Geotechnical investigations at the Main Road Campbells Creek Levee site was completed

Feature survey was completed for Main Road Campbells Creek

June

Ecologist and Arborist Reports were received

August

The removal of structures and other items on Crown land was completed

National School Lane Levee Construction tender had been advertised

September

Surveying of the floor levels of surrounding residences has been completed

Application for a planning permit for the construction of the levees had been submitted

October

Draft final design for Elizabeth Street Levee under review

November

National School Lane Levee Construction tender had been awarded

December

Permit to work in waterways for the construction of the National School Lane levee was received from the NCCMA

 

2025

February

The detailed designs for the levee banks along Cabin and Van Park, Elizabeth Street and Main Road were reviewed by Council Officers.

Sheet piling testing was conducted at Elizabeth Street Castlemaine and Main Road Campbells Creek levees.

The National School Lane Levee Construction Contract has been awarded to Smart Civil Pty Ltd. 

Due to planning permit objections this has delayed the construction commencement to June 2025.

Community meetings were be held to discuss the Campbells Creek and National School Lane Levees designs in late March.

May

Council had received the planning permit for the construction of the Levees.

Construction for National School Lane will commence in June 2025.

Subsequently further meetings were held in April and May with concerned residences resulting from Community meetings held in March.

June

A community meeting was held on 30 June 2025 at Campbells Creek Football Netball club rooms to inform the community and to discuss the current circumstances of the levees.

No decision has been made regarding the way forward at this time.

July

The National School Lane Levee Construction Contract had physically commenced and was expected to be completed in late September.

September

The National School Lane Levee Construction Contract progressing well, however due to inclement weather conditions it was expected to be completed late October.

Council recently extended our contract with the consultant Stantec Pty Ltd to undertake further flood modelling works for the Levee design.

This work was expected to be completed by end of November 2025.

November

The National School Lane Levee Construction Contract is close to practical completion.

Stantec Pty Ltd the consultant had undertaken their field work and discussions with nominated households in late October 2025.

2026

February

The National School Lane Levee Construction Contract had reached practical competition in December.

Revegetation (native grasses) occurring in the next few months at National School Lane.

Council had received the report for further flood modelling works for the levee design from the consultant Stantec Pty Ltd in December 2025.

It was presented to Council in February’s Meeting. 

March

A community information session to provide a Project Update on the outcomes of the additional modelling data was held in March 2026 at The Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve.

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