Woden Valley Community Council

12/03/2026

North woden plans. Stunning

Sometime in the 2030s or 40s, one of Canberra's best-known traffic landmarks and its northern approaches will be transformed into…

11/03/2026

Wtih Yarralumla Creek damaged by the floods, this is particalry relevant.

22/02/2026

Yarralumla Creek flooding is not a new problem. The Citynew has a letter with some history. Its at https://citynews.com.au/2026/saved-by-the-grand-wizard-and-his-magic-paint/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=canberra-daily-today-s-news-today_7801
or below.

Creek water ‘bottleneck’ threatens development

I was a hydraulic engineer working for the Department of Works in January 1971 when a super cell thunderstorm 1-in-500-year event dumped over several hundreds of millimetres of rain in one hour, causing several people to tragically lose their lives.
Water from the Yarralumla Creek flows quickly past the Ivy apartment building in Phillip during the recent storm. Photo: Andy Stodulka

The water in the Yarralumla Creek topped the Curtin/Hughes overpass over the creek as well over the culverts on Hindmarsh Drive; so you can imagine the devastation.

Unfortunately, the Ivy apartment complex is situated downstream of the confluence of the creek from Mawson and Isaacs so it bottlenecks just upstream from the second-level underground carpark of the Ivy.

Although the roundabout has been upgraded since 1971, the dimensions of the channels are the same as in 1971. In fact, the culverts were not blocked and the surge topped the roundabout by several metres.

It doesn’t take much imagination to have a scenario in the current extreme climate events where, with all the built up development that did not exist in 1970, the floodwaters could previously spread over to the hospital etcetera would now bank up and possible double in height adjacent to the underground carpark and start flooding it, shorting out the security roller door and the lifts, so trapping the occupants (and the cars).

The carpark entry faces the confluence and is a little above embankment level. This scenario was clearly not contemplated in the original design.

To avoid this or at least minimise the potential disaster, I suggest that a battery operated barrage or caisson be constructed across the entry to the driveway of the Ivy underground carpark, which would be an excellent investment considering potentially about $10 million of cars being destroyed!

The potential flooding also impacts any planned development of the light rail and the proposed unit development north of the interchange.

Andy Stodulka, via email

"We know though, that the ACT government cares for those of us who live southside, so periodically high-order magicians are dispatched to solve the problem," says letter writer HENRY MOULDS of Wanniassa.

16/02/2026

Good to see widespread concern about Yarralumla creek. We have been raising the issue for years and the additional development is not making it easier.

The appropriateness of keeping Yarralumla Creek as a concrete drain is being questioned after large sections of cement were (yet…

11/02/2026

These photos are from north curtin vicinity. The Oakey HIll Park Care have a good explaination of why the concrete drains failed in the massive rain. We must rebuild better not just with more concrete. There has been naturalisaiton up in Tuggeranong and DIckson. Why not in Woden?

08/02/2026

So good to see the parkrun in Woden.

08/02/2026

Local impact of the 83 mm of rain in Woden.

08/02/2026

A screenshot of BOM reporting 83mm that lead to the flooding in Woden.

83ml in Curtin according to BOM see this picture of their post - thanks everyone for sharing photos etc - we had a speaker from ANU at our meeting in December about flood mitigation - we need people who are interested to take something forward - let us know if that is you

08/02/2026

The rain! I will be shareing a few photos of the impacts.

08/02/2026

The rain! I will be shareing a few photos of the impacts.

12/11/2025

🌅 Woden Roundabout at sunrise, with a CBR hot air balloon drifting above — just one of the many reasons we love our green spaces 💚

Join the Woden Town parkrun every Saturday at 8.00am, starting next to the Callam Offices. Whether you run or walk, you’ll follow the beautiful Yarralumla Creek and loop through the iconic roundabout. It’s free, friendly, and a great way to start your weekend.

The Woden Roundabout — you just can’t miss it! This northern gateway to Phillip has been steering Canberrans into the heart of Woden for decades.

More than just asphalt and paint, it’s where journeys begin, end… and sometimes loop unexpectedly.

It’s functional, it’s iconic and it’s 100% Woden.