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5 SEPT 2020
Residents call for action on stormwater Gerringong residents affected by stormwater flooding following torrential rain on 8 August are disappointed Council hasn’t shown much interest in their plight, after the event which saw a number of properties severely damaged. “Not only have they not called around to inspect the damage, I am not satisfied with their response to my email asking what they propose to do about the inadequate stormwater system,” says Kim Sultana. Her house in Henry Lee Drive had up to 700mm of water around and through it. “The whole house has to be gutted – floors, walls, kitchen, you name it. “I can’t believe this has happened a second time.” The first time was just three months after buying the house in late 1998. “That time Council came and cemented pipes down the side of the house. “We don’t understand how they could have built houses over what used to be a water course without sorting out the drainage properly.” Their neigbours on the Fern Street corner, Mahn and Rebecca Darley, suffered the same fate, but without the benefit of contents insurance. “Our carpets, furniture and possessions weren’t covered, but the gyprock, which has to be replace up to 1.2m and the fences are covered by
insurance,” he says. His attempt to claim from Council’s insurer, based on them being responsible for stormwater, has been denied. “I’ve gone to Gareth Ward to help get a guarantee that it won’t happen again,” says Mr Darley. “We’ve owned this property for three years and lived in it for two and didn’t have a clue it had happened before. “We have three young children and can’t live in our house for at least three months.” In a statement to The Bugle, Council said, “Kiama Council has been collating reports about our stormwater system, following the severe storms last month. “Council staff have inspected these sites to address immediate maintenance issues. “A report is also being prepared to decide what long term solutions may be required, and the resources involved. “Our stormwater and drainage infrastructure is designed to Australian standards. “However, these standards are not designed to accommodate the extreme rainfall experienced on 8 August.” On that day, over a short period, 86.8mm fell on Gerringong, after 220mm falling over the previous two weeks. After overwhelming a drainage pit and catchment hollow on the other side of
Bridges Road, water flowed down via the grounds of Chittick Lodge, and through the yards of Fern St and Henry Lee Drive houses. Down the hill it met up with another stream of water which came through Jim Eames’ yard from a large block behind Chittick Lodge, creating havoc for houses such as the Sultana’s down the hill. While his house wasn’t as badly affected, as someone who has witnessed all three floods through the area since the Council estate was developed Mr Eames is concerned by Council’s reaction this time. “On both the previous occasions, when, as of now, residents were shattered by having lost their furniture, personal belongings and their homes badly damaged -- to the extent several will be out of their homes for up to five months – at least they experienced the sincerity of personal appearances by then mayors Joyce Wheatley and Sandra McCarthy along with Council engineers like Noel Edgell and Bryan Whittaker.” The late response he has just received to a report he lodged with the Council Engineer’s office has not impressed him. “Having had years of experience in the media world I see this as a classic case of shifting the responsibility on
Phone: 42322757
John and Kim Sultana with the last of their possessions to be thrown out
Push to improve DA processing times
Kiama Council is hoping to be accepted into a new State Government grant program designed as a carrot to improve development application (DA) processing times. If accepted as a participant in the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program, there is the opportunity to obtain a $3 million grant for the implementation of public spaces – in return for, amongst other things, reducing the net DA continued on p8 processing times by 20 per
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cent by the end of June 2021. “We’ve identified some options for what that money could be used for and put a proposal together for how we can reduce the timeframes for DAs,” says Council’s Director Environmental Services, Jessica Rippon. The General Manager’s Delivery Program and Operational Plan Quarterly Report to June shows that only 17 per cent of DAs were processed within 40 days in
the period to June, far below Council’s target of 50 per cent and the Premier’s target of 90 per cent. The average net processing time for the financial year was 87 days. Ms Rippon says the figures aren’t as bad as they look. “There has been a concerted effort over the last two years to reduce of ‘aged’ DAs. “We currently have 28 DAs that have been in the system
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