Council slams flood criticism | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast
Council slams flood criticism
A storm drain on private property behind the HomeBase shopping precinct.
COFFS Harbour City Council general manager Stephen Sawtell has called on landowners to urgently check out any storm drains they have on their property following last Friday’s night’s flood.
“Storm drains on private property need to be maintained as regularly as the public system,” said Mr Sawtell in response to growing public criticism of blocked drains and their contrition to the flooding in key areas of the city last weekend.
“Council has a regular maintenance program for the 200 kilometres of pipes and 7000 drainage pits across the Coffs Harbour area,” added Mr Sawtell.
“In this year’s budget, we have $649,000 set aside under the Stormwater Levy to undertake storm drainage improvement works. In addition, there is $178,000 to carry out capital general drainage upgrading.
“But private property owners also have a responsibility to ensure that their storm drains are operating at the optimum level.
“A storm drain on private property behind the HomeBase shopping precinct is one example of what happens when routine maintenance of private drainage is not carried out.
“Council actually cleaned it out after the March storm and last week’s flood – as a service to the community,” said Mr Sawtell.
“But it is not part of the city’s drainage system and is not the council’s responsibility.
“We will be seeking compensation for the costs of the clean-out.”
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Recent Comments
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Posted by hydroman from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
12 November 2009 10:28 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Quote from the commissioned report into the 1996 flood:
"Council has overall responsibility for the management
of flood liable land."
Whatever you're spending Mr Sawtell, it is clearly not enough. What an arrogant, petty response from an arrogant organisation.
Posted by valeryboys from Bellingen, New South Wales
12 November 2009 1 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Mr Sawtell - How petty - Small community - we wont forget
Posted by Gandalf from Kalang, New South Wales
12 November 2009 4:19 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Council has a record over decades of kowtowing to developers, with the results we see today. Inappropriate development on flood prone land... building on wetlands with inadequate drainage... lack of foresight, and failing to take due notice of advice from consultants.
Moving forward Councillors, learn your lessons from history.
Posted by MotherHuldah from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
12 November 2009 9:06 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
i've personally been a victim of a mud-clogged storm drain which cost me more then $1000.00 in repairs from the feb 14 2009 downfall. i was there when the council workers opened the drain. it had six inches of space left for water flow - and last weekend, another two rooms of carpet went under.
a personal friend in Bonnie st lost the contents of his shed in the weekend's rainfall, due to a drain that was not just clogged, but buried under more than a metre of dirt.
so when exactly does the council perform maintainance on stormwater drains?
Posted by Kevin_Rudd from Toormina, New South Wales
13 November 2009 7:51 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
The Coffs Harbour city Council SHOULD BE SLAMMED for their GROSS MISMANAGEMENT of development on Flood Prone Land.
Inadequate/lack of provision of storm water drainage pipes to suburbs. Sporting Fields which have been built on swamps. Have a look at the fields near the University. When was the last time they were able to be used? Poor provision of timely information on their City Council Web Site regarding Road Closures. Hell, Bellingen Council posted updated information way before they did! No information whatsoever on their web site regarding streets in and close to the city. What about Harbour Drive, Gundagai Place, Gundagai Street, Robin Street, Goodenough Terrace, Loaders Lane and Korff Street ? NO MENTION!
Streets around Toormina/Sawtell - NO MENTION!
When queried the response was "WE ARE NOT A 24/7 OPERATION".
I guess the floods stop when the staff leave for the day and the lights are turned off.
You would think after SIX FLOODS this year they would have some action plan in place!
POOR POOR POOR!
Obviously they don't GIVE A DAM about residents, are incompetent, or both!