A township at the junction of two rivers

The floodplain operates quite uniquely at Inverleigh.
This is because the township sits at the junction of two prominent rivers; the Barwon and the Leigh.

Its close proximity to the confluence makes the township of Inverleigh vulnerable during times of flooding.

A Flood Risk Management Study for the Barwon and Leigh Rivers at Inverleigh is being undertaken by the Golden plains Shire together with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA).
The aim of the Study is to provide a greater level of knowledge about the nature of flood risk including the extent, depth, levels and velocity of floodwaters across the flood plain for various flood events.

“The Inverleigh Flood Study will enable the SES to determine what resources the town needs and where to place them so they can help the Inverleigh community” Steve Hicks, Volunteer with the Bannockburn State Emergency Service

Many of the settler families still reside within the township today, providing a valuable source of information about how the town can survive during times of flooding.

“If we go back, there has been some really big floods. When the Barwon comes down & suddenly the Leigh comes down on top of it. It is a disaster and the people in the township of Inverleigh suffer” – John Thornton, Inverleigh land owner

Last month a community drop in session was hosted by Golden Plains Shire with assistance from Corangamite CMA, SES and Water Technology staff.

The session was well attended and valuable information was provided by the community which will be used to validate flood maps of past flood events produced Community members overseeing flood mapping