Flood Barrier Deployment Training Exercise Planned in Rochester

Campaspe Shire Council to practice installing and removing flood protection barriers in civic precinct

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Campaspe Shire Council in Rochester will be conducting a flood barrier deployment training exercise in early March, installing and then removing the AquaFence flood barrier system around the town hall, community house, council service center, and library. The exercise is part of the council's emergency preparedness efforts and will help operational staff safely deploy the barriers in the event of a future flood.

Why it matters

Rochester has experienced flooding in the past, and this exercise will help the council be better prepared to protect key community assets if severe weather strikes again. The training will ensure staff are familiar with deploying the flood barriers quickly and efficiently.

The details

The flood barrier installation will begin on March 4 and the pack-down will occur on March 5. A 10-person crew will be responsible for the setup and removal, which may cause minor disruptions to traffic, pedestrians, and parking in the immediate area around the civic precinct. Impacted premises have been notified of the upcoming work.

  • The flood barrier installation will begin on March 4, 2026.
  • The flood barrier pack-down will occur on March 5, 2026.

The players

Campaspe Shire Council

The local government authority responsible for the Rochester area and the organizer of the flood barrier deployment training exercise.

Daniel Mackrell

The mayor of Campaspe Shire Council, who stated the exercise is an important part of the council's commitment to emergency preparedness.

AquaFence

The flood barrier system that will be used and stored at the Rochester depot for future emergencies.

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What they’re saying

“This exercise forms part of our flood preparedness initiatives and will assist operational staff in safely deploying the AquaFence flood barrier system - which will be stored at Rochester - to help protect Council's community assets in the event of a future emergency.”

— Daniel Mackrell, Mayor, Campaspe Shire Council (Mirage News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This training exercise demonstrates Campaspe Shire Council's proactive approach to emergency preparedness, ensuring its staff are ready to quickly deploy flood protection measures to safeguard key community assets if severe weather strikes Rochester in the future.