Collapsed Railway Bridge And Rail Embankment Pose A Threat To Canowindra In Flood Times

Lack of action by the Department of Rail Transport in removing the collapsed rail­way bridge and rail embankment will con­tinue to cause damage to the Canowindra town and surrounds in the event of any sig­nificant floods.

Belubula flood studies carried out in 2007 and 2017 while the bridge was still stand­ing recommended the removal of the rail­way bridge and embankment which would reduce peak flood level in the town by 0.75 metres.

The railway bridge has since collapsed into the river in the November 2022 flood causing major flow restrictions resulting in the river silting up 200 metres back to Coocumber weir. A consequence of this is that increased river flows are being divert­ed over the weir, resulting in more water in the Main Street and shops, and causing problems for landholders downstream be­ing able to access their river flats.

The Deptartment of Rail Transport have completed stage 1 of the Canowindra flood recovery programme by cleaning debris off the land downstream from the railway bridge.This will prove to have been a point­less exercise if stage 2 which is the re­moval of the bridge and embankment is not completed urgently.

The Cabonne Floodplain Management Ad­visory Committee and the Belubula Land­holders have been continually lobbying the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads to give approval for stage 2 to go ahead without success to date. Phil Donato has also been asked to lobby the minister for action.

If you are affected by this flood risk and would like to contact the minister please contact Mark Ward 0427 194 600 the com­munity representative on the council flood­plain advisory committee for more informa­tion.

By Mark Ward