City seeks funding for more flood repairs

THE City of Greater Bendigo has applied for funding for four more flood recovery projects under round two of the Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund, following the flood and storm events experienced across the municipality earlier this year.

City chief executive officer Andrew Cooney said the outcome of the funding applications would not be known until late this year, but some works would likely progress regardless.

“This work is expected to start mid-year and would include removing debris in and around culverts and bridges, minor culvert improvements and table drain clearing along roadsides,” Mr Cooney said.

“We would be targeting McIvor Creek in Heathcote, Back Creek in the Epsom/Ascot/Huntly areas, Splitters Creek in Junortoun, Bendigo Creek north of Howard Street, Epsom, and Racecourse Creek, Epsom.”

The projects are:

· Huntly drainage analysis and flood mitigation action plan;

· Minor drainage and culvert improvement program;

· Waterway flood mitigation management plans; and

· Goornoong flood study.

The city has already engaged a contractor to undertake an audit to identify damage claimable under the state and federal governments’ co-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) program.

It identified more than 5700 defects ranging from small-scale culvert clearing to full reconstruction of sections of sealed and unsealed roads.

Mr Cooney said the total estimated value of the works was $15 million.

“Under the DRFA program, the city has two years to deliver this work and have the costs covered,” he said. “We are currently prioritising and programming the works, which will require the support of a range of contractors.”

Mr Cooney said about 80 per cent of the city’s rural road network had suffered some form of damage.

“Our immediate focus has been on emergency response and ‘make-safe’ works. In some areas, residents may see works have been undertaken but sites are not fully fixed yet.

“We will be returning to these areas in time to fix them properly.”

Mr Cooney said some of the most damaged roads were in the Heathcote, Eppalock, Neilborough and Sebastian areas.

Separately, the city has carried out 431 ‘secondary impact assessments’ across the Heathcote, Redesdale, White Hills, Huntly, Goornong, Bagshot, Junortoun, Strathfieldsaye and Axedale

areas.

They found about 113 dwellings with above-floor flooding and about 44 with significant under-floor flooding, while about 88 properties lost fencing and

were referred to the volunteer BlazeAid recovery organisation for help.

Latest information on flood and storm recovery work can be found at bendigo.vic.gov.au/residents/fire-floods-and-emergencies/flood-and-storm-recovery.