$10 million in savings achieved by building back better in Croydon

A $1.8 million investment in resilient floodways in Croydon shire has seen almost $10 million in avoided costs in the past eight years.

Richmond Road runs south from Gulf Development Road towards the Flinders Highway in Croydon Shire, providing an important transport link for local residents and primary producers.

Previous flooding events have caused the road to close for up to four months.

It was damaged in 2011 and 2012 and rebuilt at a cost of $275,000, before being re-damaged in 2013 with restoration costs estimated at $1.6 million.

The betterment project involved bitumen-sealing three gravel sections and cement-stabilising two gravel sections of the road, which act as floodways, to increase their resilience to washouts and damage.

It has since been impacted by six natural disaster events in 2015, 2017, twice in 2018, 2020 and 2021, and has remained functional throughout.

Richmond Road – project details: 
Restoration: $1,648,270
Betterment: $1,800,249
Avoided cost over six events: $9,857,017