LANDHOLDERS and recreational river goers across the King Valley through to the Upper Murray may have noticed lots of activity along their favourite stretches of river recently. North East Catchment Management Authority’s flood recovery program has hit high gear, addressing damage to essential public infrastructure which occurred during the October 2016 flood event.

North East CMA manager flood recovery, Dean Jones, said the flood recovery program was in full swing.

“We’ve completed structural works at 15 sites while fencing and revegetation works on an additional 13 sites are currently underway and should be completed by spring,” Mr Jones said.

“We expect to mobilise works at more sites prior to winter.”

He said the work to protect essential public assets such as bridges, roads and culverts was partially funded through the Commonwealth’s Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

“The work has involved reinforcing river banks and repairing erosion with rock armouring, placing timber piles to stabilise river banks, removing collapsed willow trees, fencing to help keep out stock, and revegetation with native species to complement structural works and to reinforce the banks,” he said.

“North East CMA has recently received notice that additional  funds of $3.4 million have been recommended for a further 21 sites and planning is currently underway to deliver these sites as part of the broader program.”

Mr Jones said a third funding submission by North East CMA for works valued at more than $1 million to address 10 additional flood damaged sites was currently being reviewed by the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment Land, Planning and Water (DELWP).

Eligible essential public assets for repair works under the NDRRA program in general are roads, road infrastructure, bridges, culverts and formal levees. This limits the sites that can be funded under these arrangements.