The Kallista Flood Watch Group and Community (KFWG) has welcomed the Victorian State Government’s commitment of $2.9 million for the design and construction of essential drainage upgrades along Monbulk Road in Kallista, marking a major milestone in the community’s nearly three-year advocacy campaign for safer, more resilient infrastructure.
The KFWG was initiated by residents in 2022 when a second flash flooding event that year again deluged the homes and properties along the 700 metres of Monbulk Road. After decades of flooding with no relief, it was clear the drainage infrastructure was inadequate and antiquated. For years residents had cleaned and maintained the culvert drains but eventually their efforts could no longer support the substantial changes and volumes in the storms. What was noted too, was that the flash flooding events were now every two to three years.
Gathering together experiences, videos and photos, the Group with the help of the local cinematographer Michael Schoell, created the Flood Watch Video. It illustrated the extreme weather events and impacts the residents endured. Armed with this valuable record, the KFWG Advocates met with former Monbulk MP James Merlino. Mr Merlino took their concerns to the Hon Ben Carroll MP, then Minister for Roads. Shortly after a “timeline” was developed for works through the Department of Transport and Planning. Surveys were conducted and a Business Plan developed that was initially submitted to the Department of Treasury and Finance in February 2023 which was unsuccessful. The Business Case was submitted again and funding granted. In the meantime, the Department of Transport and Planning supported Kallista with berms and minor temporary works to mitigate ongoing issues.
Further, the Yarra Ranges Council delivered better and more comprehensive drainage to Emberson Street and Gleghorn Road along with bitumen aprons to support the unsealed roads. Importantly the Yarra Ranges Council resurfaced and upgraded the footpath from Sherbrooke Road to Rivington Avenue to manage the flows down this passage and divert it into larger and more efficient spoon drains. The YRC works have concentrated on the water flows from Emberson Street and Gleghorn Road – the two primary sources delivering the floods to Monbulk Road.
This additional work was so essential to the outcomes of the $2.9 million Drainage Project to be delivered to Monbulk Road, Kallista commencing in March 2026 and scheduled for completion by mid 2026.
“These planned works are the first meaningful upgrades to our drainage network in around 80 years,” Karen Kestigian, the KFWG Advocate said.
“This recent announcement is the result of diligent community advocacy inspired by hope and a real need to resolve the issues. Our community has been living with outdated drainage infrastructure for many years.”
The Yarra Ranges Council over the past three years has delivered approximately $300,000 in valuable infrastructure to Kallista. With the Monbulk Road Project, the Council has included in their 2025/2026 budget footpath surfacing along Monbulk Road from Rivington Avenue to Perrins Creek Road and the much-needed surfacing of the footpath track from Gleghorn Road to Emberson Street.
These infrastructure works are substantial and will have significant daily impacts on the traffic flow along Kallista’s 700 metres of Monbulk Road. Traffic volumes off peak are approximately 8600 vehicles per day rising to above 15,000 during special events.
Local traffic and the surrounding Hills communities use it daily. It is also a major corridor for large transport and tourism and attracts traffic from Gippsland, the Peninsula, Melbourne Metro and across the agricultural and horticultural areas beyond Monbulk to the Yarra Valley regions.
With the announcement of this major drainage project, it is vital for the community across the regions to expect delays and to consider alternate routes during construction. Monbulk Road, Kallista is a very important corridor as it supports local traffic, tourism and the economic needs. Leading up to the commencement of the project, updates will be circulated through this publication, Facebook pages and the Department of Transport and Planning.
The Kallista Flood Watch Group and Community appreciate the support provided by the Yarra Ranges Council and Minister for Roads Melissa Horne, for scheduling of this drainage project. Importantly, acknowledgement is given to the early attention provided by Mr Merlino and Mr Carroll. Their advocacy and support led to a Business Case to Treasury resulting in the $2.9 million funding.
“This funding has been a long-awaited critical step,” Ms Kestigian said. “We thank the Ministers past and present who listened, engaged, and helped bring us to this point. Our community can now look forward to a more sustainable and resilient storm water drainage infrastructure.”
