Levee saves our CBD

JAY FIELDING

MARYBOROUGH held its collective breath ahead of the second big test of the city’s temporary flood levee this year.

And this time, much to the relief of business owners and locals, the system worked.

The temporary levee is constructed along Kent and Adelaide Streets in order to hold back a flooded Mary River from a large part of the CBD.

During January’s flood, it was futile after the failure of a penstock gate in the stormwater system allowed water to back up drains into part of the inner-city it is intended to protect.

An urgent evacuation of the CBD took place after the failure was identified.

However, an interim solution to the failed gate worked during February 28th’s flood, saving dozens of businesses from inundation.

The teams of workers who devised the interim gate solution and built the levy have been heaped with praise for their efforts.

“A huge well done to staff who responded to this situation so quickly,” Councillor Daniel Sanderson said.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the whole CBD would have been under water if the levee system had failed during the second, larger flood, which peaked at 10.3m, 35cm higher than in January.

“The flood levee has performed exactly as it’s designed to,” Cr Seymour said.

“We are very happy with the levee,” he said.

“The only reason there isn’t floodwater throughout the city is the levee stopping the water.

“We are very, very relieved.”

The $6m levee is made up of steel A-frames and covered by large plastic sheeting.

It normally takes a team of 30 to 40 people about six hours to fully install.

Following its success during the most recent flood, it has been touted as a potential solution for other cities at risk of flooding.

Cr Seymour said its potential depended on local terrain, requiring an area where flooding can be blocked off.

“It’s about using the topography, where you can, to protect as much as possible.”