BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au
ISSUE 773 FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
Bendigo’s most-read newspaper
New ward marks end of an era 150 years of local government history comes to an end in Eaglehawk, when it becomes part of the Whipstick ward this year. Five-time mayor Jack Taylor will be there on Sunday to help the Borough celebrate its anniversary. Story Page 11
PLACE OF HONOUR: Jack Taylor, five-time mayor of Eaglehawk. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
UP THE CREEK Bendigo Ahead
By ROSEMARY SORENSEN
THE pressure on drains in Bendigo, causing problems at hotspots right down the course of the Bendigo Creek, has reached breaking point in the rapidly developing northern suburbs of Epsom and Huntly.
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No end in sight for drain dramas
“It isn’t working,� campaigner Bob Scheuffele said this week. “The developments are supposed to adhere to the provision that no more water will come off the estates than came off previously, so, how is all that water getting in the drain? “Finding a solution is a work in
progress but it needs to be on the agenda now.� Mr Scheuffele, who runs Espress Printers on the McIvor Highway in Epsom, and local resident Bill Knight this week took the Bendigo Weekly on a tour of Back Creek and Bendigo Creek from Epsom through to the north end of Huntly.
While construction work on one of the new estates went on behind them, they pointed out how the small retardation dams created at the edge of the estate had not been able to stop major runoff from recent rains. Hay bales set up in the overflow channels were askew, evidence
of a rush of water into Back Creek which regularly overflows and closes streets in the area. A woman walking her dogs down Ironstone Road said residents know it’s a flood plain and used to cope with minor flooding, but too much water is now coming off the built-up areas. “My neighbour, he’s in his 80s, and a tree has fallen into the creek at the back of his property,â€? the resident said. Continued Page 4
Council’s super plan and Cr Reynard calls it quits at www.bendigoweekly.com.au
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