Levee to 'make things worse'

Peter and Vicki Chapman are urging residents to reject the controversial Seymour flood levee after a meeting with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.Mr and Mrs Chapman met with GBCMA chief executive Chris Norman last week but left with unanswered questions regarding flood modelling data.Mitchell Shire Council said the height of the proposed flood levee had been determined using flood modelling data developed in partnership with the Victorian Government and the GBCMA.The flood modelling data was calibrated using historical flood level data collected from several river height gauges along the Goulburn River, including the gauge near Manse Hill Rd.Mrs Chapman said the only river height gauge for Seymour was the Manse Hill gauge.‘‘The Manse Hill gauge is above a rock bar, a waterfall and a rapid, making it susceptible to inconsistent readings,’’ she said.‘‘There is no Whiteheads Creek gauge located in Seymour. Several flood gauges where decommissioned in the 1970s.‘‘A levee bank from the Goulburn River to Deep Creek was built after the 1970s floods by the State Rivers and Country Roads Board.‘‘This was designed to hold back the flood waters from Sunday Creek and the Goulburn River entering from the west end of Emily St as it did in the 1974 flood. This was brought to the CMA’s attention.‘‘That levee is above the one-in-100-year flood level that is used for their modelling. It is more than 1 m higher than the 1974 flood.‘‘Aerial flood photos of the 1973 and 74 Seymour floods show no water entering the town from the north over the Goulburn River banks behind the Prince of Wales Hotel.‘‘The flood pattern is the same for both years, confirming flooding came out of Whiteheads Creek both times.’’Mrs Chapman said the meeting with Mr Norman was productive but left questions to be answered.‘‘We appreciate Chris taking the time to listen to us, but we still can’t see how they are justifying the need and the cost for this levee,’’ she said.‘‘Whiteheads Creek is the issue, not the Goulburn River. The proposed levee is not going to protect us from a Whiteheads Creek flood, it will make things worse as the back door will allow floodwater to enter via the railway line.‘‘Spending $20 million on a levee the height of a house and the width of a road is an inexcusable waste of money and the ratepayers of Seymour should not have to foot the bill through the proposed ‘‘special charge scheme’’.‘‘When council asks for community feedback, people need to say no and not let this be pushed through under the radar.‘‘We will go to VCAT over this issue if that’s what it takes.’’Mr Norman said the height of the level was determined by flood depths from ‘‘robust’’ historical data and detailed hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, plus an allowance for freeboard (a factor of safety above design flood levels, typically used in relation to the setting of floor levels and levee crest heights).‘‘Historical flood information, as well as information for a number of rain and streamflow gauges were utilised, and not just the Seymour gauge,’’ Mr Norman said.‘‘Mitchell Shire Council, as the GBCMA understands, will carry out further community consultation.‘‘A decision on the future of the town levee will rest collectively from the community and Mitchell Shire.’’Mr Chapman said Whiteheads Creek being left in its current state was a waste of a community asset.‘‘It’s clear the GBCMA want nothing to do with Whiteheads Creek and we are pushing for the community to have control of it,’’ he said.‘‘Speak to anyone who has lived in Seymour for a long time and they will tell you how pristine Whiteheads Creek used to be. It was once a popular spot for things like platypus and blackfish.‘‘If we get the creek cleaned out, the wildlife will return and we will once again have an asset for the community.‘‘But to make that happen we need the support of the community and especially young people. Older people can only fight this battle for so long. We need the youth to take an interest.’’Mr Norman said Cardno had been commissioned by Mitchell Shire Council to work with a community-based committee to explore possible options for management associated with Whiteheads Creek.A Mitchell Shire Council spokesperson said council wanted to understand both the level of community support for the levee and community willingness to contribute funding through a special charge scheme.‘‘Feedback received will be independently assessed and a report will be provided to council that details the community’s feedback on the proposed levee and any reasons why the community does or does not support the levee,’’ the spokesperson said.‘‘A report of these findings will be available for the community. Council will take the feedback received into account when determining whether to progress the levee or not.’’Mr and Mrs Chapman are hoping to get a copy of a picture of the Kings Park fence knocked over during the floods in the 1970s.If anyone has a copy, contact Mr and Mrs Chapman on 0412 719 567.