Don’t panic, Wagga, it’s only a drill.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council closed off Copland Street at the busy Kooringal Road roundabout on Wednesday to try out a shiny new toy designed to help save the city from flood.
The 1.8metre high, double-strength steel barriers join together and are covered with plastic sheeting to build a 45-metre long ‘levee’ to keep floods out and protect city assets and homes.
And it only takes about an hour to put up – a four to six hour reduction in time.
Compared to traditional flood-management methods of constructing clay or sandbag barriers, the steel barriers will significantly reduce the response time during a flood event, and clean-up after an event, and cut overall costs by about $60,000 per event, according to acting general manager Janice Summerhayes.
“To fill the gaps in the levee during a flood there needs to be dirt moved, sandbags filled, machinery on site and a significant amount of resources, time and money to get the job done,” Mrs Summerhayes said.
Wagga’s levee system has four gaps. Barriers have been purchased to fill gaps at Copland Street and the Sturt Highway crossing at Marshalls Creek. Gaps at the Beach Caravan Park on Johnston Street and at North Wagga will still require sandbagging.