18 May 2022
$9.5m Federal pledge for reservoir flood mitigation │ Mount Barker Courier
By LOUIS MAYFIELD
The Federal Government will invest $9.5m in flood mitigation to protect downstream communities in Mayo against future flood events.
The funding will go towards providing additional flood attenuation at the Mt Bold Dam, which will include the removal of spillway gates and raising the crest to create a primary spillway slot to provide additional flood protection.
The funding will also support a project, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, to upgrade the overall safety of the dam, set to be undertaken by SA Water in the coming years.
The former Liberal State Government and the Onkaparinga Council previously set aside funding for the project, which will create capacity for an extra 12 gigalitres in the reservoir and lower the risk of flooding.
State Opposition Leader David Speirs said the Old Noarlunga community was concerned about flooding whenever there was heavy rainfall in the Hills.
"There's that nervousness that they were going to get flooded because of the releases from the biggest reservoir in SA," he said.
"The overall upgrade will strengthen that wall and put in place a whole range of safety features so that if there is a major flood here the dam wall won't find itself at risk.
"But what was needed in addition to that was a flood mitigation device in place to ensure that the downstream communities are protected."
Liberal candidate for Mayo Allison Bluck said it was "vital" that the Mt Bold Dam was maintained to maximum standards.
"The dam and reservoir are essential to communities in Mayo and this $9.5m investment highlights the Coalition Government's commitment to deliver on what is important in our regions," she said.
SA Senator Andrew McLachlan said recent floods along Australia's eastern seaboard were evidence that additional flood-proofing in the Hills was necessary.
"In 2016, parts of Old Noarlunga were flooded twice in a matter of months, with residents having since reported that in order to include flood protection, their insurance premiums increased by up to 600%," he said.
"That's why we are continuing to make significant investments to protect communities, individuals and businesses from disasters in an increasingly complex natural hazard environment.
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