Donald Demountable Flood Levee Project

After years of planning, advocacy, and collaboration, the Donald Demountable Flood Levee Project has been completed, delivering enhanced flood protection for the township side of the Richardson River.

The FloodFree Demountable Flood Barrier provides a rapid-response flood defence solution designed to help 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. View First Donald Flood Barrier Project Here.

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.

Key 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 FloodFree

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.

Project Snapshot

Location: Donald, Victoria
Completion: July 2026
Barrier Length: 22 metres
Barrier Height: 2.4 metres
Design Standard: 1% AEP (100-Year Flood Event)
Water Pressure Capacity: Up to 60 tonnes
Construction Partner: Eco Infrastructure & Engineering Pty Ltd
Barrier Technology: FloodFree by AWMA Water Control Solutions