Latest News - February 2023
Works on the final stage of the Carisbrook Levee are nearing completion.
The final stage of the project involves the construction of the Western Levee – south of Pyrenees Highway – which includes a 1,500-metre earthen levee bank, open drainage and associated works.
The construction of the levee has been over a very wet spring season. This has impacted the timing of the construction which was anticipated to be complete late 2022. Weather depending it is anticipated to be complete by March, 2023
The project is being delivered by local contractor - Doran Earthmoving.
The rain events in late 2022 highlighted the effectiveness of the Western Levee from overland flood inundation to the township of Carisbrook. The levee even, even with construction in progress, diverted the overland flows around Carisbrook, these flows would have previously utilised the existing bluestone drains running along Belfast Road/Virginia Street and the south/ north drain through the town.
- Pleasant Street levee construction (north of the railway line)
- Drainage works along Wills Street and within the racecourse.
- Construction completed in early 2017
- Williams Road Levee construction (West - East running levee, which continues east from Williams Rd across Landrigan Rd towards the Tullaroop Creek).
- Constructed in 2017
Construction of Stage Three of the Carisbrook Levee is complete including:
- Works to relocate Telstra, NBN, water and gas services, were carried out.
- The installation of twin cell box culverts across the Pyrenees Highway (located to the west of Pleasant Street, Carisbrook)
- The reinstatement of the road surface at Pyrenees Highway and final site clean-up
- Drainage works within the rail reserve
The construction work also included construction of open drain through the rail reserve and installation of driveway access to the culvert and constructing and sealing the road through the rail reserve.
The culverts will redirect the overland flows along the levee when the southern section of the levee is completed and these works will complete the missing link in the northern section of the levee and open drainage.
The project was carried out by local company Doran Earthmoving Pty Ltd - following a public tender process.
Stage Four - underway
The final stage of the project includes construction of the Levee south of Pyrenees Highway.
Specifically, Stage Four works will involve the Western Levee construction - south of Pyrenees Highway and construction of 1,500 metre earthern levee bank and open drainage.
Council has received funding for Stage Four and at its Ordinary Council Meeting in March, 2022 awarded local business Doran Eathmoving the tender for the project.
Completion of Stage Four is expected to be completed by November, 2022 - weather permitting.
Maintenance works are currently being undertaken along Tullaroop Creek within Carisbrook. These maintenance works include the removal of tree samplings and any recently fallen trees that are blocking the waterway.
The works are being carried out by Dja Dja Wurrung Works Crew contractors.
Background information on the levee
The Carisbrook Levee project was designed by specialists Entura in response to major floods which occurred in 2010 and 2011.
A project timeline is provided HERE.
January marked 10 years since the anniversary of the Carisbrook floods and since then we also experienced a significant rain event in late January.
These two events put the Carisbrook Levee project back on the agenda and so, in response, Council held a Carisbook Levee project community information session on Monday afternoon, 1 March, 2021.
Just over 20 members of the community attended which was an opportunity to hear from, and ask questions, to the Carisbrook Levee designer – Entura Specialist Dams Engineer Paul Southcott.
For those unable to attend, the information shared at the meeting is available to view here:
Carisbrook Levee Designer Paul Southcott PowerPoint presentation
Carisbrook Levee Project Plans
Carisbrook Flood Mitigation Expenditure and Income Stages 1 to 4
Carisbrook Levee Overland Flow Question and Answers - May, 2021
Attachment to the Q&A document above - Carisbrook: 1% AEP flood depth (m) - 6-hour rainfall event - Ultimate Mitigation Scenario animation:
Entura used statistics provided by Water Technology, from the Water Technology Study completed in 2013.
Council provided Entura the data from Water Technology through the tender process.
Entura completed preliminary design and detailed design in 2016.
Water technology study updated 2019 due to updated rainfall statistics from the Australian Rainfall and Runoff guidelines.
Council requested that Entura review the design and make some minor modifications to alignment to protect vegetation in 2020 as result of the update from Water Technology.
