City of Whitehorse Council

Flooding did not trouble many of the early settlers, however as urbanisation intensified, the percentage of area that is unable to absorb water has increased.

This has resulted in more frequent and larger instances of overland flooding. Most of the City of Whitehorse is fully developed and is now undergoing a phase of redevelopment, with increases in population density and intensification of land use, particularly along the main transport routes.

As a result, the potential for flood risk has increased. The key flood risks are associated with relatively short and intense rainfall events of a few hours duration.

Water level rises through Whitehorse tend to be quick following a heavy rainfall event as major watercourses in the municipality are all at stages of their upper catchments. As such, flooding may impact along the Whitehorse area stretches of Gardiners, Koonung, and Mullum Mullum creeks generally with quick rises and falls, with the exception of Dandenong Creek which can see slow water movement and prolonged inundation because of the relatively flat topography.

Are you at risk of flood

Following development and urbanisation of the area, flooding has become more frequent andmore intense within the City of Whitehorse than in the past. Flooding in the area can be caused by:

• Overtopping of waterways and lakes causing flooding in low-lying areas close to these waterways due to prolonged rainfall; or

• Flash flooding from heavy rainfall associated with severe storms or severe weather events.

The map to the right shows the city’s boundaries and suburbs as well as the major waterways and the potential impact of major flooding in the area.

Are you at risk of flood?

The small Laburnum community forms part of the suburb of Blackburn, and includes the entire length of Laburnum Street and the immediate surrounding area.

Gardiners Creek runs southwest through the centre of the City of Whitehorse. A number of stormwater drains feed into Gardiners Creek.

Drainage improvements have been built along the various drains which minimise the impacts of flooding in the area (including Blackburn Lake). Flooding in the area is primarily caused by flash flooding from heavy rainfall associated with severe storms or severe weather events.

It can also be caused by overflowing waterways after prolonged rainfall. The Laburnum Street community is at risk from flooding along both the Blackburn North and South Parade Drains.

The map to the right shows the potential affect of flooding for Laburnum in a major flood event. While no two floods are the same, floods like this or worse could occur again.