Commenced in 2018, the flood study project is a joint project between Campaspe Shire and Murray River councils, in conjunction with the Victorian North Central Catchment Management Authority, Department of Environment Energy and Climate Action, and NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
The project comprises three components:
Echuca Moama Flood Study
This report is the first part of the Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study and Risk Management Plan Project. It has been prepared to better understand and define flood behaviour of the Murray, Campaspe and Goulburn River systems and their impact on the Echuca-Moama area.
It is complete and was adopted by Campaspe Shire Council in March 2024 and Murray River Council in April 2024. It will be an important guide to ensure safe and sustainable development across the two towns.
The report consists of detailed modelling and mapping that reproduces the flooding associated with the 1993, 2011, 2016 and 2022 flood events. It also details information under existing conditions of flood levels, velocities, flows, and risk for the standard set of ‘design’ flood events ranging from a 20% to a 0.2% annual exceedance probability (AEP) event, which refers to the probability of a particular flood being equalled to or exceeded in any one year.
Torrumbarry Flood Study
This component is currently being finalised and investigates flooding downstream of Echuca-Moama to Torrumbarry to better understand flood behaviour of this predominantly rural area. Improved knowledge of the existing Torrumbarry levee bank system is sought to determine their importance in protecting farmlands and the townships of Gunbower and further afield including Cohuna. The outputs of the upstream Echuca-Moama study were required before this part of the project could be completed. The draft report is scheduled for completion by August 2024.
Echuca Moama Flood Risk Management Plan
Commenced in January 2024, this component is investigating flood mitigation options, flood warning systems and information to assist in managing flooding. Potential mitigation options identified by the engineers and the wider community are all being assessed in terms of benefits from reduced flood damage, costs of implementation and adverse impacts on others from redirected flood flows.
Some of the options under investigation include:
- Protection for properties on the east and west sides of the Campaspe River
- Improved protection for Echuca East including the Pakenham Street/Moama Street area that was heavily impacted in 2022
- Protection of properties along the breakout depression near Tindarra Resort that crosses Perricoota Road
- Increased security for the Moama town levee.
A preliminary assessment presented to the Community Reference Committee highlighted some additional areas for investigation and the importance curtailing inflows from the town drainage systems. Further consultation with the Community Reference Committee is scheduled later in July 2024.
The draft report is scheduled for release in late 2024.