Barwon bursts banks

All access to the Barwon River in Geelong is currently closed due to public health and safety concerns.

The Barwon River has once again broken its banks, inundating surrounding recreational areas.

To protect the public, all access to the river is currently closed.

The Corangamite CMA has asked the public to avoid using walking and cycling tracks, public reserves, and recreational areas around the river until water recedes and the area can be cleaned up.

The Barwon River catchment and upper tributaries have experienced much higher than average rainfall over the past couple of months. The Upper Barwon, Leigh and Moorabool Rivers all flow into the Barwon River through Geelong. Gauges in Forrest, Ballarat, Meredith, and Ballan all measured record highs for October rainfall. The river in Geelong has repeatedly reached moderate flood levels over the past few weeks, and this week the Bureau of Meteorology has issued another moderate flood warning for the Barwon River.

This inundation has impacted the safety of the river side recreational areas (walking tracks, cycling tracks, platforms, landings, access roads and carparks).

Until the area dries out completely, restoration works to ensure the area is safe for community access cannot commence.