Federal funding boosts Maribyrnong flood-mitigation push

A long-awaited flood-mitigation plan for the lower Maribyrnong River is finally moving into its next phase, after the Albanese Government confirmed $700,000 in new funding to accelerate detailed assessment and implementation work.

The investment – delivered through Round Three of the national Disaster Ready Fund – will support Melbourne Water’s Lower Maribyrnong River Flood Mitigation Study: Pathway to Implementation, developed in partnership with the Victorian Government and councils across Melbourne, Moonee Valley, Brimbank and Maribyrnong.

Local MPs Daniel Mulino (Fraser), Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong) and Sarah Witty (Melbourne) jointly welcomed the announcement, saying it represents a crucial step towards long-term protection for communities still recovering from the devastating October 2022 floods.

More than 500 properties were damaged in that event, including many in Kensington, prompting widespread calls for a transparent, evidence-based blueprint for resilience.

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the new funding acknowledged a clear message heard during community engagement: mitigation must come first.

“I’ve visited flood-affected communities all over the country, including here in Fraser, and the importance of mitigation strategies comes through every time,” Mr Mulino said. “A well-prepared community is a resilient community.”

The new announcement builds directly on Melbourne Water’s Phase One Feedback Report, released in September, which revealed overwhelming community support for protecting homes, safeguarding critical infrastructure and strengthening emergency-response capabilities. Residents also highlighted the need for mental-health support, social cohesion and long-term resilience planning.

Phase Two – beginning later this year – will expand engagement through workshops, drop-ins and online surveys, and will release a long list of mitigation options for public review. These may include upgraded levees, floodwalls, open-space reconfiguration, pump upgrades, early-warning improvements, and nature-based solutions.

Local MPs stressed that community input will continue to shape the final outcomes.

Federal Member for Maribyrnong Jo Briskey said the new funding answered a long-standing community demand.

“This project is a step forward in delivering what our community has long called for – a transparent, evidence-based plan for flood mitigation along the Maribyrnong,” Ms Briskey said.

“There’s still work ahead to turn this study into tangible protections, and I’ll continue working closely with Melbourne Water and local councils to ensure our community remains at the centre of what happens next.”

Federal Member for Melbourne Sarah Witty said West Melbourne and Kensington residents were right to expect stronger long-term planning.

“This funding is an important step toward ensuring our community is better protected from the growing threat of severe weather events,” Ms Witty said. “This is about learning from past floods, preparing for the future, and making sure that when the next major weather event comes, our community is safer and better equipped.”

Melbourne Water’s study will examine both infrastructure and non-infrastructure options, recognising that protecting homes may require temporary closures of parks, paths and riverbank areas if upgrades proceed.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the Disaster Ready Fund – which invests $1 billion nationally over five years – was designed for exactly these kinds of high-priority, community-driven resilience projects.

“Fixing high-risk areas like the Maribyrnong is essential to making Australia more resilient,” Minister McBain said.

With detailed options soon to be released, locals across Kensington, Maribyrnong and West Melbourne are being urged to stay engaged as the project moves into its most critical stage.