Bundaberg Flood Levee – Part of the Bundaberg Action Plan against flooding

Map showing the proposed levee alignment - not to scale

Community impact

We consulted with the Bundaberg community after flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald caused damage to almost 3000 properties, 600 businesses, and made 7000 people evacuate.

By consulting with the community, we learnt from those who lived through and rebuilt after a flood event. We held community information sessions throughout 2018 to get feedback on what projects and potential improvements could work for the whole community. This information was included in our Bundaberg Action Plan.

About the Bundaberg Flood Levee

Of the four options identified as part of the Bundaberg Action Plan, the Bundaberg Flood Levee has the largest beneficial flood mitigation impact for the Bundaberg community.

The Bundaberg Flood Levee project involves building a concrete levee wall with two main parts covering about 1.7 kilometres, flood gates at key outflow points with pump stations, and a community open space next to the levee.

The project is expected to reduce the risk and impact of flood events and mitigate flooding for over 600 buildings.

The key benefits are:

• Increasing flood protection from a Burnett River flood event like 2013 levels
• Mitigating damage from a Burnett River flood within Bundaberg East, Bundaberg South, and the CBD without increasing flood issues in other areas of Bundaberg
• Enhancing future economic development and opportunities for both Bundaberg and the Wide Bay Region
• Opportunity for the community to provide input to the social amenity and local use in Bundaberg East
• Potential new pedestrian and cycle path across Saltwater Creek.

This option involves:

• The construction of a levee that will run parallel to the southern bank of the Burnett River, across Bundaberg Creek and behind the sugar mill.
• The proposed levee will be predominantly made up of a concrete floodwall that would be about the level of a flood event like 2013.
• Flood gates and a pump station across Bundaberg Creek, to close when the Burnett River floods.
• Flood gates with a smaller pump across Saltwater Creek, to close when the Burnett River floods.

The Queensland Government has committed to funding half the cost of construction for the Bundaberg Flood Levee. The Queensland Government is working to secure a co-contribution from the Australian Government to support the delivery of the project. The plans for design and construction will be further refined once funding arrangements are confirmed.

Bundaberg Action Plan details

The Bundaberg Action Plan recognises and responds to changing needs and flood risk conditions following its launch in 2017.

The plan is based on options from a Flood Mitigation Options Assessment Report developed by an independent consultant based on community feedback and technical studies.

After further extensive community consultation in 2018, four options were chosen by the community and experts to future flood-proof affected residents and businesses.

1. Bundaberg North Evacuation Route Improvements
   Improve the connection between Bundaberg North and the CBD during a flood event.
2. Bundaberg Flood Levee
   Mitigate damage from a Burnett River flood within Bundaberg East, Bundaberg South and the CBD without increasing flood issues in other areas
3. Upper Flood Plain Evacuation Improvements
   Reduce the isolation time of Goodnight Scrub, Morganville, Pine Creek, Givelda and Electra
4. Floodway House Purchase Scheme
   A voluntary purchase or relocation through a land-swap of select residential blocks in Bundaberg North that are deemed to be in a floodway with high depths and velocities.

The plan’s projects remains subject to ongoing consideration.

We will continue working with you

It takes a long time to come to a decision on projects of the scale and complexity proposed in this plan because they involve local, state and federal governments. The priority project in 2022 is the Bundaberg Flood Levee, which requires co-funding from the Australian Government.