Flood information for the Ararat Rural City Council, encompassing local flood guides for Wickliffe and the Ararat Rural City Council Municipal Flood Emergency Plan.
On this page:

Ararat Rural City has a history of flooding including a significant flood event in January 2011

Ararat Rural City municipal map
  Ararat Rural City Council municipal map.

which impacted the township of Wickliffe and vast extents of rural areas resulting in extensive damage.

The January 2011 flood event is the largest event recorded at Wickliffe since 1920 when gauged records began. The 2011 floods occurred after four days of heavy rainfall on an already wet catchment.

During this flood: 

  • It took approximately 24 hours for water to travel from the Ararat gauge to Wickliffe

  • Residents were evacuated

  • The Glenelg Highway was closed for two days

  • Eleven houses were inundated above floor level including the Wickliffe Hotel

Click the button below to view the Local Flood Guide, which includes information about the local flood risk and how you can prepare for and respond effectively to floods.

About Flood Guides

Communities can use local flood guides to identify and better understand their local flood risk. They include information about: flood history, how to prepare & respond to floods and who to contact.

Contact Information

For more information, contact the Mid West Regional Office.
For information on flood warnings, see the VicEmergency website.
Your local Catchment Mangement Authority: Glenelg Hopkins

Local SES Units

  • Ararat VICSES Unit:  
    85 High Street, 
    Ararat, 3377

Municipal Flood Emergency Plan (MFEP)

Municipalities can use Municipal Flood Emergency Plans to prepare, respond and recover from flood and storm events. Ararat Flood Emergency Management Plan - updated Dec, 2019.