Water Street flood mitigation to protect more homes

Published on 09 May 2019

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Another 97 homes in Berserker will be protected in the event of a flood with Rockhampton Regional Council raising Water Street as part of Stage 2 of the North Rockhampton Flood Management Area (NRFMA).

Stage 1, which was completed before the 2017 event and protected 397 homes, saw a number of mitigation measures installed including backflow prevention valves, an embankment levee at Kershaw Gardens and a temporary levee at Rodboro and Elliot streets.

As part of Stage 2, Council has now raised Water Street and will move the temporary levee to the area in the event of another flood to protect another 97 homes.

The raising of Water Street cost $970,000 with eligible works jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Betterment program, under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Mayor Margaret Strelow said it was pleasing to see works now completed on Water Street.

“This will bring the amount of homes protected by the NRFMA to almost 500 which is a fantastic outcome for Berserker residents,” Mayor Strelow said.

“We have sent letters out to those residents this week to let them know about the Stage 2 works and we are hopeful of doing a test run on Water Street in July so that we’re prepared in the event we need to set it up again during a flood.

“Council is committed to doing more works as part of the NRFMA which is why we’ve committed funding towards it under the next round of Works for Queensland as we continue to lobby all levels of Government for further funding.”

Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, Councillor Tony Williams, said expanding the NRFMA to Water Street would be welcome news for many residents.

“During TC Debbie, two years ago, we had residents on the other side of the flood barrier who really wanted to see this expansion and to see Water Street raised and the flood barrier able to be moved here for the next event is a great outcome for this community,” Cr Williams said.

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said every time there had been a flood in Rockhampton the impact had been felt in the North Rockhampton community.

“Residents of Water Street and the surrounding communities know only too well of the heartache caused by the inundation,” he said.

“Now that Stage 2 works have been completed to Water Street by Rockhampton Regional Council, we will see the temporary levee extended to protect more homes in our community,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s funding contribution towards the project goes a long way in taking pressure off locals and assisting to flood-proof the area for the future.

“I will continue to lobby for support to complete subsequent stages of the North Rockhampton Flood Mitigation works through future funding opportunities.”

Residents on the Eastern side of Water Street have been contacted by Council to reassure them there will be no adverse impacts as a result of raising Water Street.