The task of shifting thousands of cubic metres of soil to repair four major breaks in the Loch Garry levees will take a major step this week.
After several weeks of site preparation the substantive work on levee reinstatement will get under way.
The breaks developed when the loch north of Bunbartha’s level rose in October’s floods and the regulator could not be operated to reduce the pressure. The over-topping gouged huge holes in the levees.
The project managers will be keeping one eye on the weather as heavy winter rain will slow down progress on the four major breaks.
Asked about the timing for the project, Goulburn-Murray Water diversions manager Peter Clydesdale said receding floodwaters meant there was a delay in conducting a thorough inspection of the site.
“Once the damage to the levees had been assessed, G-MW began planning the repair works,” Mr Clydesdale said.
“This included gaining the necessary permits and working closely with Loch Garry flood protection customers to provide updates around the logistics of the works.”
G-MW estimates the $1 million repair will require about 17,000 cubic metres of material for the 350m of breaks.
Although the job requires a simple reinstatement at the same level, project staff have engaged advice from Parks Victoria and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation to ensure sensitive areas are protected.
“Although we’re not increasing the levee size we have created access tracks, so we sought advice on cultural heritage areas before we moved in,” G-MW project manager Linc Wellington said.
A neighbouring property owner has allowed contractors to use part of his land for the access tracks.
Contractors will first remove loose material from the gaps before dumping fill into the holes and compacting layers as the levee is built to about 2.5m high.
At the time of going to press, G-MW was intending to source soil for the work from one of the banks on a G-MW drain at the nearby Holmes Rd, but Mr Wellington said they were checking to see if an alternative site which met soil test requirements and location proximity could be found.