Wagga Wagga City Council Flood Mitigation

Backflow Prevention Devices form part of the critical infrastructure required for the isolation of storm water systems during flood events.

Water management strategies are becoming essential for many corporations and councils Australia wide. Sourcing assistance from water control companies such as the services provided by AWMA, ensure a comprehensive range of applications are explored in the early development stages. The partnership can determine how the isolation, redirection and operation of water control structures will influence town planning and risk management policies.

Following the devastation of recent flood events AWMA provided on-site assistance to the Wagga Wagga City Council, partnering them in the development of a flood mitigation plan to provide increased town protection against flood waters.

The majority of Wagga is protected against rising river levels by an earthen levee bank. The townships storm water drainage system penetrates the levee and allows backflow in a flood event with the potential to cause widespread residential flooding.

AWMA backflow prevention devices avert backflow during flood events, but still allow storm water drainage during normal river levels. In a staged implementation program, AWMA has supplied 30 water control structures to the Wagga City Council. Hinged Flap gates have been installed on the river side of the levee whilst TLF penstocks located on the city side of the levee provide the security of double isolation.

AWMA Backflow Prevention Devices are custom made to retrofit any size or shaped orifice. On-site inspections by a dedicated project manager in the early development stages, ascertain the structure and operational requirements for each site and application. AWMA’s key design principles incorporate minimal civil works, low whole of life costs, safe operation, ease of maintenance and the utilisation of long life components.

Every application, client and site requires independent analysis and tailored elements if it is to operate as a sustainable and viable solution that can be delivered to meet budget constraints.

Design, planning and supply form the initial phase of the project. Installation is a very important second phase. The professional installation of backflow devices and any associated civil works is critical to the long term project success, sustainable protection and final budget.

AWMA provided the Wagga Wagga Council turnkey service through design, manufacture and install. Dealing with one company to deliver the complete project assists with management and reduces delivery cost and risks.

Council Team leader in Sewer / Stormwater and Flood Maintenance David Edgar said “AWMA have great quality products. We were very impressed with AWMA’s level of involvement and support throughout the process. Many sites were quite challenging during installation due to access and operational requirements. However, AWMA’s dedicated team successfully managed the project to ensure beneficial outcomes beyond council requirements”.