Barossa Council, South Australia has begun a unique flood mitigation project that has innovation at its heart.
The $800,000 project has seen temporary flood barriers installed at multiple locations in the town of Nuriootpa to protect residents from a one-in-100 year storm event.
The system is a more contemporary solution than the temporary earth levees that were constructed during the last high-level flood in 2016.
Barossa Council’s Director Works and Engineering, Matt Elding, said,
“The removable ‘post and stop log’ system is simple in design, lightweight, effective at withstanding extensive flood loads and easy to construct in a relatively short time when needed.
“The innovative design allows for its intuitive deployment without special skills, in keeping with what may be expected in an emergency situation.
“Residents can expect a high level of confidence in these flood protection measures in the event of flooding of the North Para River.”
The project involved the construction of concrete footings to fit the removable wall components at five road crossing locations in Nuriootpa. Much of the final infrastructure is underground, with only the short end upstand walls visible.
The project was officially launched in March, coinciding with a live demonstration and commentary.
The project is part of a broader flood mitigation strategy for Nuriootpa which has included construction of earth levees and masonry levee walls, and the raising of road entrances at key locations in the township.
