Western Weekender 26 October

Page 1

SPORT

ROBBO READY FOR 2013

LIFE & STYLE

ENTERTAINMENT

STARTS PAGE 47

KINGS OF COUNTRY RETURN!

meet dr todd

PAGE 78: EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

PULL-OUT FYI MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 26 2012 ISSUE 1076

PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 59,400

THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH

BRIDGE DRAMA One of the major election promises made by the State Government is in serious doubt, with an action group threatening potential legal action and expressing concern over the new crossing from Penrith to Emu Plains. The group is concerned about the public consultation process and is headed for a major battle with Penrith MP, Stuart Ayres, who has been a major advocate for a new bridge.

PAGES 6-7

CABIN LATEST Will Sinclair put up the ‘for sale’ sign?

Castlereagh resident Raymond Zara next to one of the drainage easements. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Why it happened

PAGE 5

Exclusive: Crucial report into Londonderry floods CASSANDRA O CONNOR

F

or the residents of Londonderry and Castlereagh, February 9 will always be remembered as a dark day. It was the day they experienced a flood emergency that grabbed national headlines. Th ree consecutive storm cells saw over 115mm of rain fall in the region, swelling local creeks and drains and flooding over a dozen homes in Londonderry and Castlereagh. State Emergency Services received some 288 calls for assistance and 19 people were rescued from the floods. Now, eight months later, a report into the

Torkington Creek, Londonderry flood has revealed that the local drainage system was considerably constrained due to a lack of maintenance, which may have contributed to flood levels that inundated several homes. According to an investigation carried out by environment and natural hazards consultants, Molino Stewart, drainage throughout the catchment was generally constricted by vegetation, debris and silt build up, sometimes at levels between 30 and 50 per cent. “The blockages in these culverts and channels may significantly reduce the conveyance of the channel and increase the flood levels… whilst the culvert capacity was not exceeded, the

downstream vegetation may have increased flood levels upstream,” the report said. “The constructed drainage system has been designed to drain waters after a rain event has occurred, not to carry all flows. Analysis of the major culverts in the catchment suggests that most, with the exception of the major structure on Londonderry Road, will not pass a 1 in 20 year event.” Raymond Zara has been a resident on Hinxman Road for 31 years and said that during his time in the area he has seen how drainage changes made by Penrith City Council have only made flooding in the area worse. Continues on page 2

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Quentin Bryce visits Glenmore Park PAGE 15

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