Newstead has a long history of flooding, with major events in 2000, 2010, 2011, 2016 and again in 2022.
To help the community prepare for future floods, Council is completing the Newstead Flood Study and Mitigation Strategy. This long‑term project will improve how we plan for, respond to and reduce the impacts of flooding.

What the study will do

The study will:

• recommend flood mitigation measures for the town
• help guide engineering designs for an upgraded flood levee
• improve our understanding of flood behaviour and flood risk across the catchment

About the existing levee

Newstead currently has an earthen levee that offers some level of flood protection. However, there are several issues:

• We don’t know the levee’s exact construction or condition.
• There is no formal plan for maintaining or managing it.
• There are no automated local flood warning systems to help respond to complex flood situations.

Because of this, we are completing a comprehensive assessment of flood risks within the Newstead catchment area (shown on the map below).

Why this work matters

This study will help us:

• understand how future floods could affect the town
• identify which areas and properties might be at risk
• develop best‑practice strategies to manage and reduce flood impacts

This work will support a safer, more resilient future for the Newstead community.

The study is being conducted by expert consultants Water Technology.

They are working closely with Council, North Central Catchment Management Authority, the Project Steering Committee and the Newstead community.

The Project Steering Committee brings a broad range of stakeholders, knowledge and experts into the project.

This includes funding partners as well as representatives from North Central Catchment Management Authority, Bureau of Meteorology, Coliban Water, Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action, Department of Transport and Planning, Dja Dja Wurrung, Goulburn Murray Water, Victoria Police, Victorian State Emergency Service, Mount Alexander Shire Councillors, and community representatives.

The project is funded by the Victorian Government and the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).

Council is project managing the study with technical support from North Central Catchment Management Authority.

A detailed design phase that will follow the study is funded by Council and the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund. Funding for construction work is not yet available.

Council plans to advocate for this through State and Federal grants with potential Council contribution.

The flood study will produce several important pieces of work to help Newstead plan for and manage future floods. These include:

1. Detailed flood models

We will create computer models that show how floodwater moves through Newstead.
These models will provide easy‑to‑understand maps showing:

• how far floodwater might spread
• how deep it could be
• how high it might reach
• how fast the water could move

The models will also take climate change into account, as future floods are expected to become more intense.

2. Better flood information for emergency planning

The study will identify:

• which roads may be cut off in different flood events
• which buildings might experience above‑floor flooding

This information will be added to the Municipal Flood Emergency Plan to help emergency services respond quickly and safely.

3. Updated flood maps for town planning

New flood maps will be added to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme. This will make sure planning rules reflect the most accurate flood information when new buildings or developments are considered.

4. Recommendations for flood mitigation

The study will assess the current Newstead Township Levee and explain:

• how much protection it currently provides
• what upgrades or works may be needed to improve it

It will also outline five flood mitigation options for the community to consider.

5. A final report

A full report will explain:

• how the study was carried out
• what was found
• the recommended next steps for flood management

6. Updated flood intelligence tools

This includes:

• updated flood maps
• a list of buildings likely to be affected in different flood levels
• transport routes that may be impacted

These tools help Council and emergency services prepare for and respond to floods more effectively.

No, works on the floodgate were completed in March 2025 and were independent of this project.

The results of the Newstead Flood Study will help Council decide if new flood‑related planning tools are needed. This may include changes to the planning scheme.

If the study shows that some properties are likely to be affected by flooding in the future, those properties may be included in new planning controls. These controls help make sure that any building or development on those properties considers flood risk.

Any new planning controls, including planning scheme amendments, are designed to guide current and future property owners, builders and developers. In some cases, this may mean a planning permit is needed before building or development can go ahead.

State Planning Policy requires Councils to reduce the impact of natural hazards, like flooding, and to plan for the effects of climate change. This means decisions must be based on the best available information about risk.

The Newstead Flood Study uses the latest climate science to understand how flooding may change in the future, helping ensure planning decisions keep the community safe.

The Newstead Flood Study is being completed in three main phases. Each phase helps us better understand how flooding affects the town and what can be done to reduce risk.

Phase 1: Collecting Information

• We gather historical flood information, including past flood levels and locations.
• We also listen to community knowledge — your memories and experiences help us understand how floods have behaved over time.
• Surveyors visit Newstead to record accurate ground levels and floor heights of buildings. This helps create a clear picture of how water might move across the landscape.

Phase 2: Building Flood Models

• All the collected information is entered into computer models that show how floodwater behaves.
• These models are tested and adjusted (“calibrated”) to make sure they match real events and are as accurate as possible.
• The draft models show:
  • where water might flow
  • how deep it could get
  • which areas might be affected in different types of storms
• The modelling also includes climate change projections, which help us understand how future floods may change.
• One important measure used is the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood.
  This means there is a 1% chance of a flood of that size happening in any single year.
  This is the standard used by the Victorian Government when planning for and regulating new development.

Phase 3: Assessing Impacts and Options

• Once the draft modelling is confirmed, we map which buildings and areas could be damaged in different flood scenarios.
• We then assess different flood‑risk management options, looking at how effective they could be and whether they are practical to build.
• All findings and recommendations will be included in the final report, expected in late 2025/early 2026

Stage 1 – Completed (June 2024)

• We introduced the project and shared historical flood information.
• Hardcopy and online maps were available at a community session to support discussion.
• Community members shared their knowledge and experiences of past floods.
• All feedback and local knowledge were collected to help guide Stage 2.

Stage 2 – Mid‑2025

• We will share draft flood maps, study results and the five draft flood mitigation options.
• Hardcopy and online maps will be available to help the community understand the findings.
• Your feedback will help refine the modelling and shape the preferred mitigation option.

Stage 3 – Late‑2025/early 2026

• We will present the final flood study results and the recommended flood mitigation strategy.
• This will include a community information session to explain the findings and next steps.