Spillway traffic access reopened

A TEMPORARY repair to the Knowsley-Eppalock Road at Lake Eppalock means lengthy detours are no longer necessary for residents wishing to drive to Bendigo or Axedale.

Part of the road collapsed when the lake’s second spillway overflowed during last October’s floods.

City of Greater Bendigo presentation and assets director Brian Westley said it was not possible to estimate when permanent repairs would be made.

“Reconstruction works will be significant,” he said. “It would be premature to estimate timelines or cost until we complete a detailed design.”

Mr Westley said last October was the wettest in Bendigo’s history.

“As a result, the City has recorded over 1100 flood related defects,” he said.

“We understand the frustrations of residents and are working hard to prioritise and repair damage across the municipality.

“However, this could take some time and we are asking for residents to be patient as we work through the backlog.”

Mr Westley said municipal assets were valued in excess of $2 billion overall and the damage caused by wet weather had now been assessed.

“Remediation works are well progressed and we expect repair costs to exceed $10 million,” he said.

Water storage levels in Lake Eppalock doubled between July and October and the main concrete spillway overflowed into the Campaspe River in early October.

By mid-October heavy rain and rapidly increasing flows led to flooding downstream in Rochester and Echuca.

At the same time the second grassed spillway also overflowed leading to the collapse of the road.