Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters travelled to Rochester on Wednesday, July 29, to inspect a prototype sewer pump station at the centre of the pilot project.
The project will investigate raising existing sewer pump station control cabinets to help keep them operational during future floods.
During the October 2022 floods, 11 of Rochester’s 14 sewer pump stations were inundated with floodwater, severely affecting the town’s sewer network.
“This crippled the sewer network and impacted people’s efforts to return home,” Ms Chesters said.
Ms Chesters said she met with Coliban Water representatives during her visit to learn more about the prototype.
“This project is to raise the town’s existing sewer pump station control cabinets to improve their reliability and functionality in the event of a future flood,” she said.
The Federal Government will contribute $100,000 through its Disaster Ready Fund, with Coliban Water providing a further $100,000.
“Our government’s $100,000 contribution to this project is funded through the Albanese Labor Government’s Disaster Ready Fund, which is all about protecting communities from natural hazards like floods, bushfires and cyclones,” Ms Chesters said.
The pilot forms part of broader efforts to improve Rochester’s resilience following the 2022 disaster, with the control cabinets identified as a vulnerable component of the town’s sewer infrastructure.
Ms Chesters stressed that continued investment in disaster-risk reduction projects was vital as Rochester pressed forward on its long road to recovery.
“While work continues to reduce disaster risk and build long-term resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters, there is still much more to do,” she said.
“Projects like this aim to protect critical pieces of infrastructure that communities like Rochester rely on.”
Planning and construction work on the project is expected to wrap up within the next two years, bringing Rochester one step closer to a more flood-ready future.
“I’d encourage residents to stay up-to-date on flood resilience initiatives in Rochester by heading to the Coliban Water Rochester Recovery page: connect.coliban.com.au/recovery-and-rebuild/rochester-recovery,” Ms Chesters said.
