FAQs

When we experience a natural disaster such as a flood event, which causes significant damage to our infrastructure, there are a number of steps that Council has to go through which is basically like an insurance claim process.

Council has to identify, assess and then make a claim for the damage from the appropriate funding body, as we do not have the money to pay for these kind of extraordinary events from our day to day budgets. There are strict rules regarding documentation.

There are multiple steps in this process including design investigation, final design, approval, scheduling of work crews and/or engagement of contractors so there can be a long lag time from the actual event to the rectification works being started and completed.

The table below shows further details and indicative timings for the steps in this process:

This investigation involves us drilling holes, looking at the soil, trying to find sound, solid ground. We are basically trying to understand where the hardest ground is to make sure that whatever we build has the best chance of staying up.

A causeway is basically a concrete creek crossing positioned just above the average water flow, with a pipe to let the creek water through

The type of retaining structure that is designed will depend upon the geotechnical investigation. The Design team will develop a number of options: we may just rebuild the embankment with what is called 'scour protection' or 'rock armouring' ie rocks all over the ground which dissipate the water and protect against the structure being washed away or it could be a concrete wall or a rock wall.  

This type of culvert is designed to allow better passage for fish. It allows the bottom of the creek to be natural and avoids issues that arise with more traditional pipes that can get blocked if the creek bed moves.