Funding for Kerang flood protection levee rehabilitation planning
Published on 30 July 2025
Gannawarra Shire Council has welcomed the State Government’s announcement that funding will be provided to enable plans to rehabilitate a section of the Kerang township protection levee.
Council successfully applied for funding from the Regional Flood Risk Reduction Grants Program to undertake planning to replace the Murphy Street section of the town’s flood protection levee which has protected the town from inundation during the 2011 and 2022 floods.
“Kerang’s flood protection levee is an important structure as it has protected residential and business properties in our municipality’s largest town from inundation during our past two major flood events,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.
“This State Government funding will enable Council to design a solution to address seepage and structural issues that were observed during the 2011 and 2022 floods, which will significantly reduce the risk of flooding to Kerang and surrounding areas.
“If this levee breaches in a future flood, it is estimated that damages would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and result in the loss of key services such as drinkable water, sewerage and social connectivity.”
It is proposed that this section of levee will ultimately be rehabilitated through the design and implementation of a suitable replacement. This will address known issues such as seepage and cracking, enhancing the levee’s integrity and ensuring continued protection for the township and surrounding areas.
Council will collaborate with North Central Catchment Management Authority and other stakeholders to undertake cultural heritage and native vegetation assessments. These investigations will inform the development of a design that considers environmental sensitivities and site constraints, ensuring the solution is both effective and sustainable.
“Council thanks the State Government for this funding, which will enable us to develop a plan that will assist in rehabilitating this important section of the town’s levee and assist with budgeting for these works,” Mr Rollinson said.
ABOVE: Australian Army personnel and volunteers worked to build an additional levee at the Murphy Street section of the Kerang township flood protection levee during the 2022 floods.