Drains blamed for flooding of streets, homes Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula residents are being reminded to have their storm water drainage systems checked regularly after last week’s flash flooding clogged systems and deluged properties. Some residents are again mopping up and drying out homes after up to 48.8mm of rain hit the peninsula overnight on Sunday night (7 January) through to Monday. Flood warnings were issued for many towns around Victoria, as much of the state was also lashed with wild weather. Rosebud, Hastings, Mount Eliza and Mount Martha were among the hardest hit on the peninsula, but all areas received significant rainfall. The State Emergency Service reminded residents to stay alert on the roads, as weakened trees fell in many rural areas across the peninsula. Weather Bureau records for the rain gauge at HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point, which takes in rainfall for Rosebud and Hastings, showed the total at that site in the 24 hours to 9am Monday 8 January was 31.4mm. The nearest rain gauge for Mount Eliza and Mount Martha is Frankston, with the rainfall total at that site in the 24 hours to 9am Monday 8 January at 48.8mm. The SES stations that cover much of the area from Frankston to Sorrento, including Hastings, received 121 requests for assistance, 60 for flood-
related damage and 28 for trees down. One Mount Eliza resident said storm water blockages had caused water to be redirected into the bottom floor of her two-storey house, soaking carpets and belongings. “The rain was so heavy and so fast that my storm water pipes just couldn’t cope because there was already a build-up of sand and dirt that I didn’t know about,” she said. “Now it’s costing me thousands to remediate the damage.” Storm water damage expert Richard Broxham from Squeaky Clean Team carpet cleaners said his company had been called to several jobs across the peninsula. “Waters damage is often worse than it looks, and can cause mould and wood rot and health problems,” he said. “As soon as possible you need to eliminate the damp and ensure everything is completely dry or it will become much worse.” As a general rule, residents are responsible for storm water systems on their property. Anyone in need of SES assistance should call 132 500, or in an emergency call 000. ROADS and drains were unable to cope with last week’s heavy rains, creating hazards on roads and pouring potentially polluted water into the bay. Pictures: Adam Richmond
Sea level threat to coastal living Brodie Cowburn brodie@mpnews.com.au RISING sea levels will pose a huge risk to the coastlines of the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston this century, according to a state government-commissioned report. The Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment report published last week assessed potential damage to the bay’s coastlines if sea levels rise by 1.4 metres. It listed the area around Martha Cove, the Balcombe Estuary recreation reserve at Mount Martha and the foreshore from Rosebud to Dromana as being at risk of inundation once sea levels rose. Patterson Lakes is one of the areas
most at risk on the eastern side of Port Phillip, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. “The highly urbanised and lowlying areas of Greater Geelong, Werribee, City of Port Phillip and Mordialloc to Frankston were deemed most at risk from hazards posed by sea level rise,” the report stated. “For the Borough of Queenscliffe and City of Bayside the area of inundation approximately doubles between present conditions and 1.4 m of sea level rise whereas for the Cities of Hobsons Bay, Greater Geelong, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire the inundation area undergoes an approximate two to three-fold increase for a 1.4 m sea level rise.” The CSIRO report states that the
Kingston Council area faces a “tenfold” inundation risk if the 1.4 metre sea level rise model is applied. It read that some parts of the Kingston Council area were not properly equipped for that scenario. “Much of this increase occurred in the EdithvaleSeaford Wetlands between Mordialloc Creek and Patterson River indicating that existing coastal protection structures would not be effective for 1.4 metre sea level rise.” A map of the potential impacts of a 1.4 metre sea level rise by 2100 shows all of Frankston beach at risk of erosion. After the report’s release the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference that “the first thing that we have a role in is enacting on climate change”.
“My government is taking serious action on it. Of course planning is the responsibility of state governments, but we work cooperatively with governments of all persuasions to work through these issues,” he said. “We have a government that is committed to action on climate change and an opposition that, in spite of the evidence that we see with the science and warnings that we were told about, of more extreme and more regular and more intense extreme weather events, nothing seems to have woken up the Liberal and National parties in Australia to this.” The state government said it had spent $1.8 million “to support local governments and land managers to progress adaptation planning studies in the Port Phillip Bay area, with the
release of the Coastal Hazard Assessment to support progression of these projects.” Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said “the Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment will be used to help local authorities and Victorians make better informed decision around our changing coastal environment”. “Victoria’s precious coastline is already being impacted by climate change. Our focus is on managing the risks, adapting to the changes, and supporting communities and industries to be resilient,” he said. To read the full report visit marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastalprograms/port-phillip-bay-coastalhazard-assessment
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Southern Peninsula News
17 January 2024
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