The project includes more than one kilometre of levee banks to ensure better flood protection for households and businesses in Castlemaine and Campbells Creek area, wihch has experienced flooding in high-level rainfalls over the years.

Council hopes to have the four final levee bank designs completed and permits secured within the next year.

Earthen and concrete levees will be built at at Central Cabins and Van Park in Castlemaine (100 metres long), Elizabeth Street in Castlemaine (430 metres), a 580m bank in the Campbells Creek township and National School Lane in Campbells Creek (50 metres).

Waterway improvements will also be undertaken downstream of Alexandra Bridge in Campbells Creek.

Shire infrastructure development director Jess Howard said this type of project involved a complicated process to secure approvals.

"Building levees and undertaking waterway improvements will make a big difference to reduce the impact of flooding on our community," said Ms Howard.

"We need to liaise with and gain approval from agencies such as Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Dja Dja Wurrung, VicTrack, V/Line, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Heritage Victoria.

"This phase of the project is essentially seeking to get everything in place ahead of construction and to make recommendations to Council about the next steps."

Residents, tenants and business owners close to the levee banks can expect to receive letters summarising the project and activities.

"This is an important project and we want to keep our community up to date, particularly those with properties adjoining the proposed levee sites and nearby residents who will benefit from these works," said Ms Howard.

"We will soon begin a survey of the levee sites to verify title boundaries and will work with property owners and DELWP, who are the Crown Land owners of the waterway, to resolve any land encroachment issues."

The levee banks project is the final part of the Flood Management Plan recommendations, which council adopted in 2015. Council endorsed conceptual designs for four levee banks and waterway works in February 2018, following extensive community consultation.

For more information about the project visit Council's website www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/levees