Flooding and defences

How does the City of Melbourne mitigate the three major kinds of flooding?

Melbourne has always been a water city, with low lying areas prone to flooding.

As Melbourne grows, dealing with the impacts of climate change and safeguarding our city against potential flooding is integral to ensuring a sustainable future.

Coastal flooding

Flooding from storm surges can come from the sea and overtake susceptible low-lying areas. Sea water can be pushed up into rivers and creeks.

Key defences: non-return valves on stormwater drains, flood gates, levies and tidal barrages.

Rainfall flooding

Rainfall, or pluvial flooding, is localised rainfall that causes flash flooding due to the local drainage system being inundated.

Key defences: pits and pipes, pumps, local storage areas, rainwater tanks.

River flooding

River flooding, or fluvial flooding, is when rivers and creeks burst their banks, and surge in flood plains around river and creeks.

Key defences: non-return valves on stormwater drains, flood gates, retarding basins.

Find out more

Water and climate change
What are the impacts of climate change to our city?