Levee bank management

Levee banks are artificially raised or constructed embankments or walls that reduce the likelihood of flooding during high flow events in a watercourse. They are a type of flood mitigation infrastructure.

View the 2024 Improving levee bank management - Project overview (pdf)

Background

The South Australian Government reviewed how the management of levee banks could be improved in South Australia.

View the response to the Burns Review in the Improving levee bank management in South Australia - 2020 Position Paper (pdf)

Levee banks exist in many parts of South Australia, for example:

• extensive levee banks on the River Murray at Renmark and the lower River Murray, and smaller sections at Paringa, Lyrup and Berri
• levee banks on the Gawler River, Little Para River, Dry Creek, Onkaparinga River, River Torrens, Hindmarsh River, and in the South East of the state as part of the South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Scheme.

Key actions of the position paper are to document existing levee banks, establish a planning process to identify priority levee banks and determine formal management arrangements, and plan and seek funding for levee bank works needed.

Research

Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) are undertaking research to hear and learn from the personal stories of people who were impacted or threatened by the 2022/23 floods. Learn more about this research on the NHRA website.

Temporary earthen levee bank along the River Murray