Levees are an important part of Victoria's flood management infrastructure and can be highly effective in containing flood waters.
The effectiveness of levees depends on proper planning and management, including proper maintenance. Without care, levees can become ineffective or can even add to flood risk, hampering flood response and recovery.
Communities and individuals need to develop a plan to manage levees and should consider:
We have developed levee management guidelines you can use. We worked with practitioners and managers in the field to develop the guidelines.
This work was in response to several recommendations from Parliament during the Victoria Environment and Natural Resources Committee (ENRC) Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure in 2012.
The guidelines provide levee owners and managers, such as councils and landowners, guidance for managing all types of levees during its lifecycle. These include:
The guidelines cover important aspects of
Owners and managers can also find information of the actions they can take to successfully manage a levee before, during and after a flood.
Following the 2022 floods, the Australian and Victorian Governments jointly funded the $2.75 million Northern Levee Categorisation Assessment Project through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The project was undertaken to improve understanding of levees and other flood mitigation infrastructure across northern Victoria.
The project brought together Catchment Management Authorities, councils and VICSES to improve understanding of levee management arrangements and their role in managing flood risk.
For the first time, levees and other significant floodplain features across northern Victoria have been identified, mapped and assessed using a consistent methodology across the region. This has provided a clearer understanding of which levees are formally managed, which provide a public flood protection benefit, and where further management, planning or investigation may be required.
The project identified:
The findings are already being used to improve flood preparedness and emergency management across northern Victoria. Information from the project has been incorporated into Victoria's flood intelligence systems, including FloodZoom, and will be used to prepare updates to Municipal Emergency Management Plan - Flood and Storm Sub-Plans.
This helps emergency services, councils and communities make more informed decisions before and during flood events.
This project also responds to recommendations arising from the February 2025 response to the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee Inquiry into the 2022 flood event in Victoria. In particular, it supports Recommendation 37 by improving understanding of levees and other significant floodplain features.
The assessment was undertaken alongside broader floodplain management activities across Victoria, including flood studies, flood mitigation planning, flood warning improvements, and investigations into potential flood mitigation infrastructure projects.
More than $4.3 million has been allocated to 20 projects. Four have been completed, 11 are underway, and a further 5 are expected to commence shortly. The outputs of these projects will contribute to the evidence base that informs future floodplain management and investment decisions.
Information from the project is being used by Councils, VICSES and Catchment Management Authorities to support emergency management preparedness and regional planning activities.
Project findings will inform future updates to Regional Floodplain Management Strategies and help identify priorities for future flood mitigation investigations and project development.
A Northern Levee Scoping Study is being undertaken to improve understanding of future levee management needs, beneficiaries, costs and funding considerations associated with the 600 km of levees that provide public community benefit. This will provide further information to guide future strategic planning and investment.
The Victorian Government will review insights from the project and scoping study to help inform consideration of whether existing policy settings, accountabilities and funding arrangements for rural and regional flood mitigation infrastructure remain fit for purpose.
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Levee Management Status
Catchment Management Authorities (CMA)
Map disclaimer: This interactive map is for information purposes only. The graphics, data, and other content provided are general in nature. The information does not take into account individual circumstances and should be used at your own discretion.
While we strive to ensure the timeliness of the content, we do not guarantee that it is complete, current, or free from errors. Users should independently verify the information before making decisions based on it.
Catchment Management Authorities regularly update their flood data. To obtain current flood information for your property and area, please contact your local Catchment Management Authority.
Check the VicPlan website for any flood-related planning controls impacting your property.
The Northern Levee Categorisation Assessment Project has improved understanding of levees and flood mitigation infrastructure across northern Victoria. The FAQs below explain what the project found, how the information is being used and what happens next.
Project reports and regional findings are now available through the 4 northern Victorian catchment management authorities. These reports outline locally informed outcomes for managing levees over time.
You can apply to your local catchment management authority (CMA) for a permit to pass over Crown land to access and maintain a levee. This follows an amendment to the Water Act 1989. This allows you to reduce the flood risk to your property by undertaking levee maintenance before floods occur.
The permit scheme applies to:
The permit scheme does not apply to:
Maintenance includes:
Maintenance does not include:
You can get a permit for up to 5 years. If you intend to use machinery and introduce any soil or other material, you must undertake these actions within the first 12 months of the permit.
Your CMA will work with land managers to set conditions to reduce the impact of works on the Crown land and its flora and fauna. The first step is to complete a levee maintenance permit application kit.
For more information about the permits, please contact your local CMA.
Chapter 17 of the Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy sets out a series of policies, accountabilities, and actions for flood mitigation infrastructure in Victoria. It defines the management framework for flood mitigation infrastructure.
You can find a consolidated management framework for flood mitigation that covers 4 different infrastructure categories. This covers public and private land. Different management arrangements apply for each category.
Each document is a standalone document. This helps practitioners find information in their areas of interest to help with their decision-making. We encourage practitioners to read this document before deciding if you need further guidance.
Local government authorities and other parties addressing the framework's specific aspects helped prepare the guidance material. CMAs provided further support.
Page last updated: 28/10/26