A $100,000 pledge brings Echuca East closer to a permanent levee, but councillors fear the project might offer residents more promises than protection.
Photo by
McPherson Media Group
Echuca East residents are one step closer to long-awaited flood protection, but some councillors are warning the move may offer “false hope”.
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At its May council meeting, Campaspe Shire Council committed $100,000 towards potentially funding detailed designs and statutory approvals for a much-needed flood levee bank at Echuca East.
The allocation will be used to leverage a $400,000 grant; only if that funding is secured will the designs for the Echuca East levee be completed.
The detailed designs would mean the levee project could essentially be “shovel ready”, making it more attractive for state and federal grants.
The levee has been a point of conversation in the council chambers since before the 2022 floods, which caused inundation in 22 homes across the area.
While the allocation is a step forward, Cr John Zobec was quick to point out in debate that the project would still heavily rely on a financial co-contribution from Echuca East residents.
The project is estimated to cost over $21 million — a figure Cr Zobec said council could not easily “stump up”.
He also expressed concern that the current funding allocation was lower than what was typically recommended when applying for external grants.
Cr Zobec argued that these factors were enough to create false hope for residents in flood-prone areas.
“It concerns me, what is going to be the impact … on the community if we aren’t successful in getting this additional funding to complete the (levee) design, and we’ve made all these promises,” he said.
Draft designs for the Echuca East levee from August 2025. Photo: Campaspe Shire Council.
Photo by
McPherson Media Group
“That is the problem here — anyone that reads … that we’re going to go ahead and get this grant … if that doesn’t happen, are we prepared for that event?”
Cr Adrian Weston agreed, saying conversations surrounding funding should be nuanced as to not “build an expectation”.
Crs Tony Marwood, Zoe Cook and Luke Sharrock all said funding the designs was a necessary step towards preventing a situation like the 2022 floods from happening again.
Cr Marwood said residents had been told that building the levee would require co-contribution, and council could not fund the entire thing.
Cr Rob Amos said this “co-contribution” point would not come as a surprise to residents in that area, and that community consultation had been extensive.
In a rare appearance in debates, Mayor Daniel Mackrell said the funding allocation — while only pushing the project forward slightly — was a worthwhile investment.
“If we can assist the future of not as much water being put into people's homes, then this is a good start to it,” he said.
The motion to allocate the funds passed unanimously; however, with a $21 million shadow looming and the design process contingent on a successful grant application, the outcome remains in the balance.
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