COMMUNITIES along Yarriambiack and Dunmunkle creeks will benefit from flood studies.
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The investigations will update existing flood mapping, which has become out-dated.
Announcing the projects on Thursday, Minister for Water Peter Walsh said it had been seven years since land near Yarriambiack Creek was last studied.
He said the new $200,000 flood investigation would assess 70 kilometres of land from Warracknabeal to Brim.
"It will include mapping for a range of flood situations and will incorporate changes in the floodplain since the last investigation in 2007, such as expansion of the weir and decommissioning of water channels," he said.
The investigation will also assess and recommend future flood mitigation options.
Nationals candidate for Lowan Emma Kealy said community consultations would be an integral part of the process.
"As the community is all too aware, the January 2011 floods threatened 79 houses in Warracknabeal," she said.
"It is important to ensure local knowledge is captured as the flood investigation is carried out, to achieve the best possible result."
She said the same was true for the $210,000 study of the Dunmunkle Creek catchment area.
Rupanyup, Lubeck, Lallat Plains, Dunmunkle East, Lawler, Boolite and Carron communities will be included in flood investigation, which will extend almost 90 kilometres along Dunmunkle Creek.
"A project steering committee will be established to lead the project and they will work with the community to ensure they capture local knowledge of past floods," Ms Kealy said.
Mr Walsh said the 2011 floods showed just how out-dated the existing Dunmunkle Creek flood mapping was.
"Some residents woke to find water already in their home, with no prior warning a flood was coming," he said.
"There was no information about how big the flood would be or which properties would be affected."
Mr Walsh said the flood study would give communities a better understanding of flood risk, which would improve land use planning, flood emergency planning and response, and community preparation.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority will manage both investigations.
The state and federal governments, Yarriambiack and Northern Grampians Shire councils and Wimmera CMA have provided funding for the studies.
GWMWater and the State Emergency Service will also help with investigations.