Pioneer River flood levee at Valetta Gardens and Kay Court ‘missing link’ to be filled
Up to 9000 homes will be protected from flooding and storm surges with a new multimillion-dollar project, after the area was determined the greatest hazard zone in the region.
Mackay
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Mackay residents are no strangers to suburbs going underwater in major flooding events but a new $6.13 million levee is hoped to plug the “missing link” in flood security.
The Pioneer River Levee from Valetta Gardens to Kay Court will protect about 8000-9000 residents in low-lying areas, many of whom will remember spotting their neighbours stranded on rooftops in the devastating 2008 floods.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the project, which had received both council and federal government funding, was a “fantastic outcome”.
“It’s a very, very important missing link for us to fill in for the levee system about the urban area of Mackay,” Mr Williams said.
“That Valetta Gardens Kay Court area (is) where (floodwater) has the most potential to break through and affect the most amount of living facilities.
“So we’re going to get that done.”
MRC documents state the project will include a “reinforced concrete blockwork levee and earth levee together with the associated works such as construction of concrete pipe culverts, other drainage works, rock and gabion bank protection work, pavement works etc along the bank of Fursden Creek discharging into Pioneer River extending from Valetta Gardens to Kay Court in Mount Pleasant”.
Mr Williamson said the levee itself would cost about $6 million but there would be additional costs with “a lot of remedial work that will go on top”.
The Pioneer River had been identified as the “greatest risk to the region in terms of flood hazard” in the council’s overarching Mackay Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, which superseded several smaller studies and incorporated findings from the 2008 floods and Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
Councillor Justin Englert had said the region’s flood immunity was particularly concerning with Mackay being the second lowest-lying city in Queensland after Hervey Bay.
At the ordinary meeting on Wednesday, the council approved a recommendation to award the $6.13 million project to Vassallo Constructions.
Works are expected to take 18 months and will need to be complete by June 2024 to meet federal funding requirements.
Mr Williamson said the Albanese government had promised $5 million in the last election towards the Valetta Gardens to Kay Court levee, which the council had matched.
Council documents state there is $2.5 million assigned in the 2022-23 capital budget with a further $4.32 million allocated in the 2023-24 budget.
The council also has plans to develop another levee near Mackay Airport to protect South Mackay, as well as repair work on the levee around the Caneland Central shopping centre.
“That’s a very expensive one to do but it’s the next cab off the rank,” Mr Williamson said.
“The one around Canelands needs renewing because it’s starting to deteriorate.”
There is at least $350,000 budgeted for the South Mackay levee project which council documents state is “currently out for tender for consultancy services with an expected award in the coming months”.
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