There has been a long history of flooding along Forest Creek in Castlemaine and Campbells Creek. The levee project aims to reduce the likelihood of flooding and damage to private and public property during extreme rainfall events and flash flooding.
Timeline of this project:
2010
- September and November: Significant rainfall led to flooding in the shire.
2011
- January: Widespread rainfall and flooding occurred across the state. The shire received around five times the average January rainfall over five days which led to major flash flooding. Severe damage occurred to 65 households, 40 farming properties, 11 commercial properties and 10 Council buildings along with considerable damage to footpaths, trails and recreation reserves. Properties were affected at Campbells Creek, Newstead, Yapeen, Chewton, Guildford, Taradale, Metcalfe, Baringhup Caravan Park and Castlemaine (Gingell Street, Bruce Street and Elizabeth Street).
- February: Victorian Government led a Review of the 2010 Flood Warning and Response.
- August: Victoria SES received funding to develop the Mount Alexander Emergency Flood Management Plan.
2012
- February: Further localised high rainfall and flooding occured in the shire. Most of the 157mm rainfall was over two days. This included 81mm in two hours, which was considered to be a one in more than 100 year event. Around 110 properties were affected by flood. The worst affected were properties located at Campbells Creek, Chewton, Maldon, Taradale and Castlemaine (Bruce Street, Berkley Street, Johnston Street, Barker Street, Urquhart Street and Bull Street).
- October: Victorian Government approved a study to undertake the Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan. The North Central Catchment Management Authority (North Central CMA) contracted GHD to develop the plan.
- November: GHD began its review of available data and historic flood information.
2013
- January: North Central CMA released an Expression of Interest seeking community members to join a Planning Steering Committee to guide the development of the Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan.
- GHD continued work throughout 2013 and 2014 on hydrological, hydraulic, flood damage and mitigation option assessments to feed into the flood management plan recommendations.
2015
- March: Community consultation sessions were held in Castlemaine and Campbells Creek to allow feedback on a draft Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan.
- November: Council adopted recommendations of the Flood Management Plan. The plan included the development of an Urban Waterways Management Plan, an amendment to the Mount Alexander Shire Planning Scheme with updated flood maps, assessment of flood warning system improvements, and construction of levees and waterway improvements (this project).
2016
- March: Council awarded the contract for Investigation and Design of Flood Mitigation Treatments to Cardno Victoria Pty Ltd following a competitive tender process.
- April to May: Cardno began geotechnical investigation site works.
- July and November: Community consultation was held with Gingell Street residents about levee design.
2017
- March: Council received a draft landscape plan for proposed waterway improvement works downstream of Alexandra Street Bridge at Campbells Creek.
- June: Cardno issued conceptual levee design drawings for public consultation. Community drop-in sessions were held to discuss the proposed designs for Castlemaine and Campbells Creek.
2018
- February: Council endorsed conceptual designs for Central Cabin and Van Park, Elizabeth Street, Campbells Creek Township and National School Lane levees, along with waterway improvement activity downstream of the Alexandra Street Bridge in Campbells Creek. Council endorsed the need for further community consultation and design for levees along north and south of Gingell Street in Castlemaine. Council endorsed the Newstead levee as part of a separate design contract.
- October: Council adopted 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 approved an amendment (C082) to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme. The amendment incorporated new flood mapping boundaries and planning overlays in flood prone areas in Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton.
- April: A funding agreement was approved between Council and the Department of Environment Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to gain permits and approvals to prepare for construction of levee banks and waterway improvements.
- August: Council began work to prepare the project for construction (the Development phase).
2020
- January: The project team commenced work to liaise and engage with local businesses, residents and relevant stakeholders to update them on the current phase of the project.