Joint media release with the Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP

The Federal and Queensland Governments are continuing to deliver on their commitment to ensure Bundaberg residents are engaged throughout the Bundaberg East Levee project.

The latest project updates will be provided at free ‘drop-in’ community information sessions at the School of Arts building in Bourbong Street next week (22-24 April 2024). Members of the Project Team, including representatives of the recently appointed design consultant SMEC, will be available to discuss areas of interest or concern.

This latest round of community engagement reflects an ongoing commitment to keeping the community informed and being open to feedback on the proposed levee, which will run roughly parallel to the Burnett River’s southern bank.

The $174.7 million project is being jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland Governments through the Flood Recovery and Resilience Package under the Emergency Response Fund to better protect homes and businesses in the CBD, Bundaberg East and Bundaberg South from natural disasters and extreme weather events.

The project’s reference design includes a concrete levee in two main sections with floodgates, flood doors and pump stations, and waterway crossings of Saltwater Creek and an unnamed creek known locally as ‘Distillery Creek’.

Further community engagement will support public confidence in the levee design and its ability to respond to significant flood conditions.

Quote attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt:

“The Bundaberg East Levee project is a significant investment to protect homes and businesses in Bundaberg and the growing Wide Bay community from disasters and extreme weather events that significantly impact individuals and communities.

“We’ve seen previous Burnett River flood events cause widespread damage to public infrastructure, thousands of properties, hundreds of businesses, require thousands of people and their pets to evacuate and disrupt agricultural activities.

“Once completed, this levee will help reduce the impact of flooding from the Burnett River and deliver a more disaster-resilient community for generations.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Public Works Meaghan Scanlon:

“The levee means less damage, less clean-up and less disruption for Bundaberg households and businesses, reducing the financial and emotional toll of flooding events.

“It will not only protect homes and businesses, but it will also foster a resilient community that can recover faster from major flood events.

“We can’t stop severe weather from happening but we can be better prepared so more people can get back to their homes, their lives and their jobs faster.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith:

“This is an opportunity to get the facts, and to talk with experts about this project.

“We saw the devastation to local businesses, families and the community when the floods hit.

“That’s what this project is about – it’s about protecting our community – it was the number one-rated flood mitigation project in the country.

“When all the checks and balances are complete and construction begins, there’ll be economic benefits for Bundaberg in terms of jobs both on-site and throughout the entire supply chain.

“We understand that there is community concern about flooding over north – this is a chance to talk with the experts and see how this levee will not adversely impact the community.

“The appointment of SMEC with CDM Smith to progress the design represents a major step forward and boosts local confidence that the levee will be carefully designed to do the job.

“CDM Smith already has in-depth project knowledge and are ready to hit the ground running, having previously been engaged to conduct flood modelling at the business case stage in 2019.”.

“CDM Smith already has in-depth project knowledge and are ready to hit the ground running, having previously been engaged to conduct flood modelling at the business case stage in 2019.”

Further information:

• Community information sessions regarding Bundaberg East Levee will be held at the School of Arts Building, 84 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg on:

  Monday 22 April, 11am-6pm
  Tuesday 23 April, 7am-6pm
  Wednesday 24 April, 7am-2pm.

• Further information on the Bundaberg East Levee project is available at the project website: qld.gov.au/BundabergEastLevee. You can also subscribe to the Bundaberg East Levee email list to receive project updates. Simply email ‘subscribe’ to BundabergEastLevee@epw.qld.gov.au.
   
• The Bundaberg East Levee Project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments It is being funded through the Queensland and New South Wales Flood Recovery and Resilience Package, as well as efficiencies Queensland has achieved through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Further information on the Flood Recovery and Resilience Package can be found at the National Emergency Management Agency's website.

This release was originally published on the Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs' website.