Devastating floods in 2011 have left nerves frayed and community confidence in respective governments at its lowest ebb.

Former Central Goldifields Shire councillor Helen Broad recounted fielding numerous phone calls during recent inclement periods.

“People would call me if there was rain forecast, they’re always on edge, they panic when the creek comes up,” she said.

Carisbrook resident Susan Tully used an example of an elderly gentlemen stood in the middle of the road in his pyjamas one morning during heavy rain to reference the fear and anxiety felt by those in the town.

“We just want to feel safe again,” she said.

Since the 2011 floods, which inundated 300 homes, there has been a state government inquiry, allegations of misappropriation of $32 million in flood recovery money, and numerous reference groups and committees.

Despite all the noise the promises, Ms Broad said the one thing the community craved – safety – was yet to be achieved.

Flood mitigation works for Carisbrook have been painfully slow, according to Ms Broad, who was recently appointed to the Carisbrook Flood and Drainage Management Plan Implementation Community Reference Group.

The first two stages – Pleasant Street works and construction of the flood levee along Williams Road – have been completed.

Stages three and four, which would complete the levy west of Carisbrook, has been held up by an uncooperative landowner.

Your town, your voice: Find out what issues matter in other central Victorian towns

Carisbrook is located in the marginal seat of Ripon, held by Liberal MP Louise Staley.

The town was recently showered in election promises. 

Ms Staley and the Liberals committed $1 million toward new change rooms for umpires and players and other infrastructure upgrades at the recreation reserve.

Ms Broad said the proposal would be positive for the community and welcomed the funding. 

She said there was also a need for the flood works to be completed.

“There’s no point in having state-of-the art facilities if it’s going to get flooded all the time,” she said.

“If we can't fix the flood problem the town's not going to develop.” 

The town’s $2.25 million flood levee is fully funded - $250,000 from the federal government, $1.735 from the state and $270,000 from Central Goldfields Shire. 

Ms Broad said the town would like further funds to properly clean up the creek, so the “community can take up care of it”.

Maldon’s greatest strength is conceivably its greatest weakness. 

The town has long relied on its historic streetscape and has built its economy around it accordingly. However, there is a developing concern in Maldon that its heritage is holding it back.

How so? 

Most locals refer to the proposed Tarran Valley development.

Plans to build a 43-lot housing development on the site about two kilometres outside the Maldon township were eventually scuppered by Planning Minister Richard Wynne in 2016 following years of back and forth between the developer, Mount Alexander Shire Council and the government of the day.

Crucially, the estate became political in the lead up to the 2014 election, with Labor candidate Maree Edwards promising to review the council's decision to rezone the land if elected.

The review took place and the development was eventually knocked back on safety grounds, with the planning minister suggesting he was not satisfied the estate would be safe, due to “significant risks” to life and property from bushfire.

Many of the objectors also had heritage concerns, and there is a feeling among those in Maldon that a vocal, influential minority drove this opposition.

The town is gradually starting to feel the impact of that decision, its ageing population struggling to attract new blood.

“You could fire a rocket down the main street on a Saturday night and no one would notice,” one local commented.

“This town needs shot in the arm.”

Maldon’s sporting clubs are also feeling the pinch.

Maldon Cricket Club ceased to exist a couple of years ago, but now the football club is struggling in the under age groups.

Maldon Neighbourhood Centre coordinator Amy Atkinson said the debate over which colours to paint a wall on the outside of a bakery in the main street typified the town’s appreciation of, and connection to, its heritage. She suggested more money could be invested into streetscape works, as the main street “was looking a bit tired”. 

As part of its annual plan 2018-19, the Mount Alexander Shire has prioritised creating a business case and sourcing funding for the Maldon Streetscape Project. 

Business owner Robert Cox said there had to be a collective approach to the town’s streetscape, as some maintained their properties while others let them waste away. He said the number of empty shops on the main drag, which is not unique to Maldon, was a result of extortionate rents.

Other projects put forward by those in Maldon included a bypass around the town centre and improved public transport links to bigger towns like Maryborough.

Newbridge is just one story in a central Victorian region rich in diversity. The Bendigo Advertiser has visited, and will continue to visit, almost 30 towns in our region to capture its uniqueness and prevalent issues ahead of the state election.

To read further on some of the issues affecting other central Victorian towns, click here.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.