Newstead flood study
Newstead is located on the Loddon River, and the geography of the area has resulted in a long history of riverine flooding. The main Loddon River branch posed the greatest flood risk, but flooding also occurred from Muckleford Creek, Campbells Creek, Larni Barramal Yaluk, Green Gully Creek and the Mia Mia Creek catchments, all of which enter the Loddon River near the township.
The Newstead Levee, constructed in the 1920s, provided some protection on the eastern side of the river; however, its level of protection had not been well understood. Breaches were reported during the 2010, 2011 and 2022 flood events. The Newstead Flood Study was undertaken to assess these issues and provide recommendations for long‑term mitigation.
Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) project‑managed the study with technical support from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA).
The project was funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments through the Disaster Ready Fund Program and the Flood Study Program.
Stay up to date on project progress and community engagement opportunities by visiting Shape Mount Alexander.
What was the process?
The Newstead Flood Study was delivered in several stages:
- Stage 1 — A preliminary assessment of flood frequency and severity in Newstead, including projected climate‑change impacts.
- Stage 2 — Engagement with the community to identify all possible flood‑management options.
- Stage 3 — Synthesis of data and development of the draft Newstead Flood Study.
- Stage 4 — Use of the study results to guide the development of a new levee design.
The study incorporated learnings from recent major flood events and assessed the condition and performance of Newstead’s aging flood‑mitigation infrastructure.
Completion of the project
The Newstead Flood Study has now been completed, following more than two years of work with key stakeholders, the project steering group and the Newstead community.
The study recommended Mitigation Option 6 — a raised, extended and realigned levee — as the preferred option to reduce flood impacts in the township.
Option 6 would:
- Reduce above‑floor flooding for 88 properties
- Provide stronger protection for homes and businesses
- Improve township resilience overall
The study also recommended refining the levee alignment to reduce the amount of fill required in the south and to minimise increased flood levels on the western side of town
Council decision - 19 May 2026
At the Council Meeting on 19 May 2026, Councillors adopted Mitigation Option 6 as the preferred approach for reducing flood impacts in Newstead.
This decision formally progresses the project to the levee design stage, consistent with the recommendations of the completed flood study.
Next Steps
With the Newstead Flood Study now complete and Mitigation Option 6 adopted by Council on 19 May 2026, the project has moved into the levee design stage. This phase will focus on developing a detailed design that reflects the preferred mitigation option and supports long‑term flood resilience for the Newstead community.
- A tender process for detailed design will be undertaken to engage a suitably qualified consultant.
- Detailed levee design work will be developed in accordance with the adopted mitigation option (Option 6).
- Technical reports and modelling outputs will continue to be available on Shape Mount Alexander for community reference.
- Council will explore construction funding opportunities to support delivery of the levee upgrade.
Timeline
The project is now progressing into the levee design phase following Council’s adoption of Mitigation Option 6. Key upcoming milestones include:
- Tender for detailed design — The tender process will be released in June 2026.
- Contract award — The detailed design contract is expected to be awarded by end of July 2026.
- Detailed design completion — Detailed design is anticipated to be completed by 25 March 2027.
- Construction phase — Construction timeframes are not yet confirmed and will depend on securing suitable grant funding.
Newstead Flood Study - supporting information
If you have questions or would like to learn more about the project please contact Rana Punam, Project Engineer at email info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or call 03 5471 1700.