‘Where’s our flood mitigation?’

By Jo Kennett

ONE YEAR after the flooding of more than 300 homes in Bogangar, a local flood mitigation action group say the promised monitoring equipment has still not been installed and a crucial survey of Cudgen Creek has not been completed.

The group say that residents of the streets that were severely flooded last year, hundreds of them for the first time ever, still feel dread when it rains heavily — as was the case last Friday.

According to the Cabarita Beach and Bogangar Residents Association (CBBRA) Flood Mitigation Group, the risk of a repeated rapid overflow of Cudgen Lake is high “without effective action to alleviate the congested drainage channels through Cudgen Creek and surrounds.”

“The committee understands that rainfall and creek height monitoring is to be installed, after a firm commitment from Tweed Shire Council and CSIRO’s recommendations, however nothing has happened yet,” a spokesperson for the group told The Weekly.

“This would clarify that the rainfall event, while severe, was not sufficient in our catchment for a 1:500 to 1:1000 flood, which means that other causality factors need to be investigated.

“While we appreciate the engagement with the Tweed Council, Resilience NSW,

Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative, National Emergency Management Agency and CSIRO, it is now one year on and not even the simplest of preventive action has been done.”

The committee said that data they have documented demonstrates that Cudgen Lake is no longer draining effectively.

“The historical lack of maintenance to address the increasing siltation of the lake means that stormwater flow into the lake is not managed or filtered and more easily causes the lake to breach its banks, backing up into the residential areas,” the spokesperson said.

“Even the simplest step of surveying Cudgen Creek to identify the extent of blockages has not happened, despite requests from our committee and other interested groups, and despite promises for action from Tweed Shire Council,” one resident said.

“We need a timely study to evaluate the best solutions to prevent future flooding of our community and have forwarded proactive proposals such as clearing and maintenance of the creek, and investigating the construction of an open culvert or other outflow to the ocean that would restore the natural balance and drainage of the lake.

“It is only a matter of time before the next big wet and taking action on a preventable problem remains the focus of this community group.”

The Weekly contacted National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Crown Land who said, “Cudgen Lake, including the lake bed, is in Cudgen Nature Reserve which is managed by NPWS for its natural and cultural values.”

“NPWS does not manage flood mitigation works associated with the water body of Cudgen Lake, which is the responsibility of local government,” a NPWS spokesperson said.

“Any works proposed need to be consistent with State Environment Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 21.

“NPWS would consider supporting applications or consent requirements by the responsible authority to undertake appropriate flood mitigation work.”