New SA stormwater project to prevent flooding

The South Australian Government has reached an agreement with five local councils and the Stormwater Management Authority (SMA) for a $140 million stormwater infrastructure project.

The project is set to safeguard against flooding in the Brown Hill and Keswick Creek catchment – the most at risk area for flooding in Adelaide.

The flood mitigation works detailed in the Brown Hill and Keswick Creek Stormwater Management Plan, which has been 10 years in the making, will reduce the number of properties affected by a 1-in-100 year flood event by nearly 98 per cent.

The infrastructure project will deliver about 73 full-time jobs during construction.

The plan will also yield more than $240 million in community benefits in terms of damage mitigation, reducing flood impacts on Adelaide Airport, minimising economic disruption, and improving stormwater quality across the catchment.

Brown Hill Keswick Creek Stormwater Project Chair, Terry Buss, said, “Crucially, it provides an opportunity to get on with works that will ultimately improve the standard of flood protection for homes and properties across the catchment.”

The councils and State Government have called on the Commonwealth to contribute funding toward the project, and will be actively lobbying for this contribution in order to expedite construction and reduce the burden on ratepayers.

Water and River Murray Minister, Ian Hunter, said, “Given the mitigation of flood impacts on the Adelaide Airport and the extent to which the works will reduce the need for costly compensation from a future flood event in the catchment, there is clearly an argument for joint investment by the Commonwealth.”

SMA Presiding Member, Stephen Hains said, “Formal approval of the plan by the Stormwater Management Authority delivers on one of its highest priority initiatives. The Authority will now focus on proactively working with other councils on stormwater management plans for other catchments.”