New stormwater pipe set to reduce flooding

AN upgrade to a stormwater outfall pipe at Ozone Road jetty in Barwon Heads is expected to be completed by December.

The City of Greater Geelong is upgrading the pipe to improve the flow of stormwater and reduce localised flooding.

The existing stormwater pipe below the Ozone Road jetty which can be seen at low tide, doesn’t have sufficient capacity, resulting in localised flooding upstream.

“The replacement of the stormwater pipe is important for the local community in reducing the effects of flooding during significant storm events,” acting director of city services Peter Godfrey said.

“Removing the old pipe, (which is) visible at low tide, makes the area around the jetty a more pleasant place for recreational use.” The city has designed a larger outfall pipe of 1.6 metres in diameter that will discharge run-off from all storm events more quickly.

It will be built 16 metres north of the existing
pipe under the jetty and extend 14 metres further
out into the river channel, 3.5 metres east of the end
of the jetty.
The new location will make it unseen at low tide
as it will be much lower and further out into the
river channel.
The installation of the new pipe will permit
higher flows at peak times reducing flooding in the
Clifford Parade – Grove Road catchment area.
There will be limited risk to boats
using the channel as three beacons will be
placed as navigation makers along the pipe and the
extent of the outfall doesn’t go much farther beyond
the jetty.
The city has committed to conducting water
quality monitoring of the jetty area before and
during construction, engaging an external nationally
accredited laboratory to undertake the work.