Flood studies to be updated across Burrumbeet Creek catchment

The City of Ballarat is about to start new investigation work to better understand and manage flood risk across the Burrumbeet Creek catchment, including Miners Rest, Wendouree and surrounding areas.

The Burrumbeet Creek Flood, Drainage and Mitigation Investigation will update flood mapping completed in 2013, reflecting changes in land use, recent flood events, changes in industry best practice and updated climate guidance.  

The study will assess both riverine flooding from the Burrumbeet Creek and stormwater flooding in urban areas, providing a more accurate and reliable picture of flood behaviour.  

The investigation, which will also rely heavily on community input, is being conducted to gather information that will be used to strengthen the accuracy of the study and best protect the growing communities.

The study is similar to the Ballarat 11 Waterways final flood study that was recently completed and upon its completion, will also be adopted into the Ballarat Planning Scheme.

The investigation will also simultaneously guide the design and delivery of the Miners Rest Flood Mitigation project, which has received financial support from the Australian Government under the Disaster Ready Fund.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the investigation was vital to help guide planned infrastructure projects.

“This investigation is about making sure we have the most accurate and up‑to‑date information about flood risk, so we can better protect our community, homes and critical infrastructure now and into the future,” she said.

“Local knowledge is a vital component to this, so we really want people to share any information they have with us.”

The investigation is funded by the Victorian Government under the Regional Flood Risk Reduction Grant Program.

Planning for today’s conditions and future climate impacts

Previous flooding events in Miners Rest and surrounding areas have highlighted the growing impact of extreme rainfall.  

This investigation will use the latest national rainfall and flood modelling techniques to assess flood risk under current conditions as well as future climate scenarios, including projections to 2100 and beyond.

The updated flood modelling will better show where flooding will occur, how deep the floodwaters could be, how fast it travels and which properties, roads and infrastructure may be affected.  

This information will help the City of Ballarat, emergency services and the community better prepare for a wide range of floods, from more frequent storms to rarer extreme floods.

How the investigation will protect the community

A key focus of the project is identifying practical ways to reduce flood impacts across Burrumbeet Creek catchment.  

The catchment covers approximately 260 square kilometers and consists of areas such as Invermay, Learmonth, Mount Rowan, Miners Rest, Cardigan and Windermere, before terminating at Lake Burrumbeet.

This includes testing potential flood mitigation options such as drainage upgrades, levees, road improvements, and bridge upgrades with particular attention on proposed mitigation works at Miners Rest.

Each option will be assessed for effectiveness and cost‑benefit, helping the City of Ballarat prioritise investment in flood mitigation and infrastructure.

The investigation will also support updates to flood‑related planning controls and the Municipal Flood Emergency Plan, improving decision‑making, emergency preparedness and understanding of road closures, property impacts and flood warning times.

Community information sessions to be held in February

The first of several planned community information sessions will be held later this month to gain initial local insight into flooding experiences in the area, with a keen focus on events that have occurred since 2011.

The details for the sessions will be as follows:

• Wednesday, February 25 at Wendouree Neighbourhood Community Centre, 11.30am-1pm and 4.30pm-6pm.
• Thursday, February 26 at Miners Rest Mechanics Institute Community Hall, 11.30am-1pm and 4.30pm-6pm.

The sessions will be the first opportunity for community members to engage in the development of flood mapping.  

Residents are encouraged to attend the session to share their knowledge and experiences of previous flooding events in the area.Photos and videos of past storm events are strongly encouraged.

There will multiple follow-up community engagement sessions held throughout 2026 and 2027, which will include further consultation on key items such as proposed mitigation options, draft planning maps, and full investigation findings.    

The sessions and investigation are being carried out by consultants at Water Technology.

More information about the flood study is available on the City of Ballarat MySay page.