The town of Deniliquin on the Edward River in New South Wales has a population of about 8,000. It is protected from flooding by three lev~e systems with a total length of approximately 8km. One levee system protects North Deniliquin and another protects Deniliquin South. A third levee which is no longer required surrounds Davidson Street.

The levee was originally constructed in 1955, raised in 1956 and raised again in 1975 to the 1 in 50 year flood level. Each raising operation was initiated with the approach of floods. Under these conditions construction and raising occurred with some urgency and it is to be expected that a uniform high standard of construction was not achieved.

Concerns have been expressed by Deniliquin Municipal Council regarding a number of problems associated with the levee system. These concerns include the unsoundness of the levee and its inability to withstand large floods, the low level of the levee crest (i.e. generally at 1 in 50 years flood level) and current developments being within the flood channel.