Community Strengthened with Buloke Shire Flood Levee Solution
The Donald Demountable Flood Levee Project delivers flood protection for Donald's township side of the Richardson River.
The custom-designed FloodFree Demountable Barrier provides flood protection designed to safeguard homes, businesses, community assets and critical infrastructure when flood threats arise.
Installed along Camp Street, the new FloodFree Barrier completes Donald's dual-barrier flood protection strategy. Working in conjunction with the existing FloodFree flood protection infrastructure on the opposite side of the Richardson River, it delivers a comprehensive flood mitigation system for the township.
Driven by the ongoing efforts of the Donald Flood Management Committee and delivered by Buloke Shire Council, the project introduces a rapidly deployable barrier system that strengthens emergency preparedness while reducing reliance on traditional temporary flood protection measures.
The completed installation marks an important milestone for the Donald community, enhancing flood resilience and supporting long-term preparedness for future flood events.
The Challenge
Flooding has remained a significant concern for the Donald community since the major flood events experienced in 2011.
Traditional flood response measures can require substantial time, labour and emergency resources to implement. The community sought a more efficient solution capable of providing reliable protection while supporting faster emergency response.
Key project objectives included:
Rapid deployment during flood events
Reliable protection of homes and critical infrastructure
Reduced demand on Council and emergency service resources
Protection against significant flood events
A durable, reusable system for long-term community benefit
The Solution
The FloodFree Demountable Flood Barrier system delivers a modern, engineered flood protection solution tailored to Donald's flood risk requirements.
FloodFree Features
22 metre Span: Custom-designed to protect a critical access point within the township's levee network.
2.4 metre Barrier Height: Provides substantial flood protection capability.
Bolt-down Centre Posts with Props: To ensure the flood barrier can withstand up to 60 tonnes of water pressure.
100-Year Flood Protection: Designed to withstand a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood event.
Rapid Deployment: Fast assembly and removal when flood risks arise.
Custom-engineered: To meet exact site and operational requirements.
Reusable Infrastructure: Permanent foundations combined with demountable barrier components for long-term use.
Why Flood Barriers
FloodFree barriers are designed to provide communities with a practical and effective flood defence solution that can be manually deployed when needed.
The Donald installation demonstrates how FloodFree barrier solutions can help:
Improve flood preparedness
Reduce emergency response pressures
Minimise deployment time
Protect critical community assets
Deliver long-term value through reusable infrastructure
Training & Operational Readiness
Effective flood protection depends on more than engineering, it requires operational readiness.
To ensure the barrier can be deployed quickly and efficiently, Buloke Shire Council conducted practical training exercises involving depot staff and emergency management personnel. Teams practised both installation and removal procedures, building familiarity with the system and strengthening emergency response capability.
This proactive approach helps ensure the community is ready to respond when flood threats emerge.
