Construction of a retention basin to protect Woodend from major flooding is expected to save ratepayers more than $100,000 because soil removed from the site will be used to cap Kyneton’s landfill tip.
But the Quarry Road basin project, which began last week, has also upset some residents after more than 40 trees were felled.
Macedon Ranges council assets and operations director Dale Thornton said the basin project had been timed to coincide with work at the tip, after tests confirmed the soil’s compatibility with the Kyneton site.
More than 20,000 cubic metres of soil will be transported north to ensure Kyneton’s tip face meets Environment Protection Authority standards.
Mr Thornton said planners had worked for two years to ensure the projects took place at the same time.
‘‘It’s a massive amount of earthworks; there’s probably 40-50,000 cubic metres of earth that need to be shifted around,’’ he said.
‘‘The open space that’s there will still be open space. The major trees that are there will be retained, but it’s going to look different.
‘‘It will have more of a dish look to it, with higher edges.’’
Mr Thornton said the basin was designed to protect Woodend from one in 10, 50 and 100-year floods.
‘‘We’re talking about significant flooding that involves some houses,’’ he said. ‘‘The last time it flooded was in the early 1990s when the supermarket was under 300 millimetres of water.
‘‘It hasn’t happened because of El Nino, but as sure as anything it will happen again one day. If we don’t do something, Woodend will cop it.’’
The project has been a long time coming. It was recommended in a 1997 report that led to construction of a levee bank along Five Mile Creek.
Mr Thornton said consultation last year drew questions, but most people understood the project was needed to protect Woodend.
He said the trees being removed had either been deemed not significant or not indigenous.
‘‘Vegetation which is to remain in place will be protected through the appropriate measures,’’ Mr Thornton said.
Woodend Landcare president Kate Daniel said the group wanted to work with the council to revegetate the site. The six-month project will also entail moving large numbers of trucks out of Quarry Road, through Woodend along High Street and Black Forest Drive.
