CONSTRUCTION on Darlington Point’s $2.6 million flood levee is now under way.
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The levee, initially built by farmers in the 1956 floods, is long overdue for an overhaul and plans have been 17 years in the making.
Protecting the township of Darlington Point from high river events, the levee will incorporate a one-metre freeboard, which will act as a safeguard against any flood event as high as the floods of 1974 – the highest on record.
Murrumbidgee Shire Council director of technical services, Joseph Bianchini, said a lot of work had gone into the development thus far.
“I’ve been here for six years and it had been going for 11 years before that,” Mr Bianchini said.
“The first 15 years were all planning, reports and studies so there wasn’t much to show for it, but in the last two years we’ve had construction happening.”
Mr Bianchini said the levee was vitally important to the township.
“If the levee wasn’t there, this town would flood every time we have a really high river,” he said.
“Like in 2010 and 2012, if the levee wasn’t there the whole town would have been flooded.
“It’s a very important piece of infrastructure.”
So important, in fact, that council has contributed more than $300,000 to its redevelopment.
Some of the levee construction was covered under flood recovery funding, the rest will be covered by a $2.6million government grant, which council was required to contribute to on a 1:8 basis.
Mr Bianchini said there would be stormwater pipes, floodgates and other measures put in place to prevent flooding.