The Loddon River at Newstead has been subject to considerable physical and ecological modifications due to extensive historic mining activities and other anthropogenic influences. Of recent years bank erosion has been an issue for both landholders adjacent to the Loddon River and the North Central CMA. Following an investigation, pile fields were constructed on several bends of the river in 2003.
The Loddon River at Newstead was subject to a series of flood events ranging from a 1 in 20 year ARI event to over a 1 in 100 year ARI event during late 2010 and early 2011. Resultantly, the majority of an existing pile field site was significantly damaged.
A study was undertaken to assess the original pile field sites and the hydrology and hydraulics of the Loddon River at Newstead in context to the recent flood events in 2010 – 2011. The purpose of this study was to develop a new suite of works, including detail designs with consideration to the knowledge gathered in the study.
This paper investigates the geomorphic and hydraulic behaviour of the Loddon River at Newstead with reference to existing pile field sites and the 2010 – 2011 flood events.