$140m deal to floodproof Brownhill and Keswick creek catchments signed today by councils and State Government
A $140 million deal to safeguard more than 2000 Adelaide homes from inundation has been announced today, ending a decade of uncertainty about the waterway’s future. Here’s what we know.
- Harsh weather puts $140m Brownhill and Keswick Creek flood mitigation plan back in the spotlight
- 66 Mitcham and Unley residents to lose on average 240sq m of land under Brownhill Creek plan
- Labor promises $44m to stem Brownhill Creek flood risk
- Auditor General investigating Brownhill and Keswick Creek stormwater scheme
A DEAL to floodproof Brownhill and Keswick creeks has been announced today, ending a decade of uncertainty about the waterways’ future.
It means councils can forge ahead with work to try and save 2000 homes in the southwest from flooding in suburbs including Netley, Keswick, Ashford, Marleston, Brooklyn Park, Richmond, Forestville, Millswood, Unley Park and Hawthorn.
The State Government and the creek’s five catchment councils – West Torrens, Adelaide, Mitcham, Burnside and Unley – have agreed to split the cost of the $140 million project over the next 20 years.
The State Government will contribute $70 million and the councils will pay for the rest, according to the size of the catchment within each of their boundaries.
West Torrens will contribute the most, at 49 per cent or $34 million. Adelaide will contribute 8 per cent, Mitcham 10 per cent, Burnside 12 per cent and Unley 21 per cent.
The deal was meant to be announced in November but state Water Minister Ian Hunter made an unsuccessful last-ditch effort for federal money.
Mr Hunter and the five mayors announced the funding agreement in Myrtle Bank’s Ridge Park at lunchtime today.
Some works, using council funding, started last year, including a detention basin in Ridge Park.
West Torrens Mayor John Trainer said he was “delighted that we’re finally making some financial progress” towards saving homes in the inner west and south from flooding.
“We’re very appreciative that the State Government – despite its budgetary restrictions – is willing to contribute substantially to the project,” Mr Trainer said.
The five councils agreed to a plan for the catchment in 2015 focusing on clearing and widening creeks rather than building a dam in Brownhill Creek’s upper catchment, east of Mitcham village.
In October, they agreed to contribute half the total, rather than a third as had been anticipated a year before, after the Liberal Party refused to match $44 million promised by Labor during the federal election campaign.
Mr Trainer was still hopeful the Federal Government might contribute in the future, particularly if Labor took power some time in the next 20 years.
“We’re most hopeful with changes of government that are set to occur over 20 years that the Federal Government will take the role it should to protect vital national infrastructure such as the Keswick interstate rail terminal and the Adelaide Airport,” Mr Trainer said.
Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne said it was a “necessary project which is long overdue”.
“At last we’ve arrived at a solution that will stop flooding we’ve only seen recently,” Mr Clyne said.
Richmond resident Alfred Ellul, 78, whose home near Keswick Creek is at risk of flooding, said the work “should have been done years ago” but he was happy to hear the deal would be signed.
“Everybody is – let’s put it that way,” Mr Ellul said.