Maribyrnong City Council

Communities in the City of Maribyrnong are at risk from riverine and flash flooding events. There
has been a recent increase in population density in Maribyrnong as well as an increase in land use which have increased the flood risk across the council.

This is particularly relevant to Seddon, Yarraville, Braybrook and Maidstone where the ability for water to drain is limited.

The Maribyrnong flood plain is comprised of 400 properties including commercial, residential and community facilities which are threatened by large river events in the order of 1 in 100 year events.

Households and business should refer to their Local Flood Guide or the Maribyrnong City Council Municipal Flood Emergency Plan for more information.

Are you at risk of flood?

Large amounts of rain in a short space of time can cause flash flooding in and around Maribyrnong, while longer rain events may cause the Maribyrnong River to flood and overflow its banks, resulting in water spreading out across the surrounding land which is relatively flat.

Flooding is likely to last for 24-48 hours but historical events have spanned a week. The EA Coulson Gardens, Maribyrnong Park and other green spaces downriver help to absorb some of the surplus water, however the large volume of water moving through the suburb means there are many homes, properties and businesses at risk of flooding along the floodplain.

Maribyrnong is severely impacted by riverine flooding as experienced in the 1974 flood. Low lying areas along the river downstream of Ballarat Road are impacted by both flooding from the Maribyrnong River and from local contributing catchments.

Areas at Risk of Flooding Areas at risk of flooding include:

• Raleigh Road, between the bridge and Hortense Street
  Van Ness Avenue, between Raleigh Road and Hillside Crescent

• The Esplanade, between Plantation Street and Chifley Drive
  Streets north of Raleigh Road up to Chifley Drive

• Streets east of Alameda Avenue

• Aberfeldie Park including The Boulevard to Vida Street

The map to the right shows the probable flooding in a 1% flood event in Maribyrnong. A 1% flood means there is 1% chance of a flood this size occurring in any given year.

New Local Flood Guide under development

Are you at risk of flood?

The Maribyrnong Township is located on the Lower Maribyrnong River. The township is built on a floodplain where once the river bursts its banks, slow moving flood waters spread across the relatively flat developed land. The Anglers Tavern starts during a Minor Flood.

In a Major flood, 232 mostly older-style residential properties are at risk of flooding, many over-floor. And at the 1% Annual Chance (1 in 100 year) flood level, 456 properties are identified as being at flood risk. High intensity, short duration rainfall events can cause flash flooding in and around Maribyrnong, while prolonged rainfall may see the Maribyrnong River flood.

The area sees moderate to slow water movement as the terrain is relatively flat and the Maribyrnong River adjacent to the Maribyrnong Township is at its lower reaches with the river mouth only approximately 8km downstream. As a result, flooding is more likely to last for 24-48 hours, but historical events have spanned a week.