Council staff say they don’t believe the construction of the Bayshore Drive Roundabout is to blame for recent flooding events on private property around Melaleuca Drive and Ewingsdale Road.
It comes as Bay FM radio show Community Newsroom last week, hosted by Jim Beatson, reported a Ewingsdale resident’s view that the flooding was a result of the new Bayshore Drive Roundabout.
Resident Tom Vidal told Bay FM, ‘Ever since the roundabout [construction] started, Council cleared a culvert going through Ewinsgdale Road and redirected the flow from an existing easement to a little agricultural drain on the eastern side of Melaleuca Drive.’ Vidal claims that has resulted in the stormwater draining to his land.
Council’s media spokesperson told Echonetdaily that staff, two Councillors (Cr Coorey and Cr Hackett) and the Belongil Catchment Drainage board met on August 31 to discuss the matter.
They said, ‘Although more investigations are being undertaken, Council does not believe the construction of the Bayshore Drive Roundabout is to blame for the flooding.’
They continued, ‘As part of the construction of the roundabout however, a culvert that was blocked for many years was cleared and this could explain the additional water.’
‘Engineers have and will continue to look at this issue. James Flockton, Council’s Drainage and Flood Engineer, met with Mr Vidal onsite yesterday afternoon to do an inspection.’
