Work to start on Newstead flood levee

Published on 30 October 2017

The Launceston Flood Authority will this week begin construction on a 700m-long flood levee in Newstead, designed to protect low lying parts of the suburb from a one-in-350-year North Esk River flood.

The levee will be predominantly an earth levee, but will also include a Bauer flood gate across Hart Street and a concrete levee between Hart Street and the Hoblers Bridge Netball Centre.

The Federal Government has provided $250,000 towards the $780,000 project, which is expected to be completed early in 2018, with the work being undertaken by Baker Building and Civil Contracting.

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said he was pleased work on the new levee was starting.

"This is a project that is going to bring new confidence to residents of low lying parts of Newstead, some of whom were severely impacted in last year's floods," Mayor van Zetten said.

"It's another asset to the city's flood protection system, and one I hope rarely needs to be tested."

Launceston Flood Authority Chairman Alan Birchmore said the new levee will be built to withstand the same flood levels seen in the North Esk last year.

"We're very grateful for the Federal Government funding that we've received for this important project," Mr Birchmore said.

"Once complete, the new levee will provide protection for the same level of flooding we saw in June 2016.

"The flows we saw in the North Esk last year were significantly higher than any previously recorded flood in that river in decades, which is why this levee is built to a higher standard.

"We promised local residents that we would do our best to get this work completed before next winter, and I'm very pleased that despite a detailed and complicated design process, this is going to be achievable."

Construction of the new levee comes in the wake of the recent Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research report, which found Launceston's flood levee system performed above expectations during the June 2016 floods.

Liberal Senator for Tasmania, David Bushby, said he was delighted to see another election commitment delivered for Launceston.

“The recent CRC Research report found that during last year’s floods, the levees prevented losses of more than $216 million — highlighting the significance of this infrastructure,” Senator Busby said.