More than 70 people packed the Creswick RSL Hall on Thursday 1 December to hear about a preferred option for protecting Creswick from future flooding.

Organised by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in association with the Hepburn Shire Council it was the third public meeting held as part of developing a Draft Flood Mitigation and Urban Drainage Plan for Creswick.

The meeting heard that five possible mitigation options have been modelled. The preferred option includes strategic low-level levees throughout the town, minor creek deepening and two additional culverts under both the Castlemaine Road and Clunes Road bridges.

The preferred option in the draft plan is designed to protect Creswick from a 1 in 50 year flood. This level of protection would have prevented the flooding experienced in Creswick in both September 2010 and January 2011.

The preferred option has a Benefit-Cost ratio of 0.8 but does not account for the social and psychological costs endured by Creswick’s flood-affected residents.

Whilst some residents attending the meeting responded favourably to the preferred option others raised concerns.  These included the robustness of the modelling, the inadequacy of the urban drainage system to cope with storm water – particularly when the creek is full, and the inability of Creswick Creek to drain away quickly downstream of the railway bridge.

Newly elected Hepburn Shire Council Mayor, Cr Sebastian Klein, encouraged all Creswick residents to provide their feedback on the draft plan by the closing date of Monday 12 December 2011.

Cr Klein said, “The North Central CMA has received many responses to date, however if you live in Creswick and haven’t yet indicated your support, don’t miss this opportunity to influence this important issue in your community.

“It is vital that as many Creswick residents as possible indicate whether they support or don’t support the preferred option in the draft plan before it is submitted to government for funding.”

Feedback forms, the draft plan and a summary brochure can be downloaded from the North Central CMA website - www.nccma.vic.gov.au

For more information contact the North Central CMA by phoning 5448 7124

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au