Myrtleford is located adjacent the Ovens River near the confluence of the Buffalo River, Buffalo Creek, Barwidgee Creek and Happy Valley Creek. The lower reach of Happy Valley Creek (downstream of Ovens township) lies within the Ovens River floodplain and is a recognised developing anabranch of the Ovens River.

Under flood conditions, Happy Valley Creek and the adjacent floodplain carries a significant portion of the total Ovens River flow in immediate proximity to the urban centre of Myrtleford.

In 2021 the Myrtleford Breakaway Study was undertaken and reviewed the threat of the Ovens River breaking away from its current course south of the township of Myrtleford to scour a new channel along Happy Valley Creek through Myrtleford. The potential for this avulsion of the Ovens River into Happy Valley Creek has been known since at least 1917, but previous studies in 1994 and 2003 focussed more on the geomorphic processes driving the avulsion and did not consider the full range impacts that it would have on the community.

The Study will undertake a detailed flood study utilise available LiDAR topographic data to determine flood levels and extents for a range of flood frequencies for the townships of Myrtleford and Ovens and the rural locations across the middle Ovens and Buffalo River floodplains.

It will also focus on providing emergency flood intelligence for Myrtleford and Ovens linked to the Eurobin gauge, flood mapping suitable for contemporary emergency and planning technology platforms, updates to the Municipal Flood Emergency Plan and Local Flood Guide and information for the planning scheme and associated referrals across the middle Ovens River and the Buffalo River.

We will be defining the risk posed by riverine flooding from the Ovens and Buffalo Rivers along with Happy Valley, Buffalo and Barwidgee Creeks.

The Study will assess the risk based on the current conditions of the waterways and the Happy Vallet Creek breakaway, as well as the impact that the climate change is expected to have on future storm rainfalls.

The Study will not assess the risk associated with stormwater flooding (inundation by local runoff or when the capacity the stormwater drainage system and local channels and waterways is exceeded), avulsion processes around the Happy Valley Creek breakaway and the assessment of future flood risk mitigation works.

The Study will be used to define flood related planning controls, develop flood intelligence products, inform emergency response planning and assist in the preparation of community flood awareness and education products.