Mitchell Shire Council voted to include a culvert over Whiteheads Creek at Delatite Rd, Seymour, in its the 2021-22 budget.
A decision was made to adopt a one-in-five-year flood design standard as the preferred option for a future upgrade of the crossing at an estimated cost of $914000.
As part of its 2017-2018 capital works program, council allocated $30000 towards the investigation of options to improve road safety at the existing ford crossing of Whiteheads Creek.
Council engaged Cardno Australia to assess multiple upgrade options for the crossing. The assessment included the preparation of four bridge concepts for a range of design flood events, including one-in-five-year, one-in-10-year, one-in-20-year and one-in-100-year flood events.
The four options, as well as a ‘‘do nothing’’ approach, were compared using a range of criteria to determine a ranking for the most favourable upgrade option. The one-in-five-year flood event structure was ranked as the most favourable option to improve road safety at the location.
Any upgrade at this location will also provide improved facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.