On Tuesday 7 December, as I was turning at what is known as Uncle Tom’s corner, the main road into Mullumbimby, and what did I see? A large flood sign. And oh yes, it was flooded!
Just before though, casting one’s eye to Everitt’s Creek, what does the eye see? Well, of course, just the same as has been for years now – that’s right – a creek totally blocked and full of massive head-high reeds.
Ah well, the water and floodwaters have to go somewhere; hence over the main road into Mullumbimby, blocking traffic going in or out. The same with the massive drainage area north of Brunswick Heads. Creeks and drains blocked, the river that was at New Brighton is now massively silted as it has been increasingly becoming for a number of years now.
The health status of this river now is a question that needs to be answered, as ‘it ain’t what it used to be’ and especially at low tide, with stinking, putrid mud, especially along the river banks opposite Casons Road and across from the shop.
The same with the South Arm of Brunswick River – a lost river there too at Brunswick Heads.
Five minutes from Billinudgel, Crabbes Creek is the same. Completely full of lantana, scrub, a huge mulberry tree, high reeds and an updated flood height measurement gauge that was changed some 12 months or so ago – but actually, nothing to do with cleaning an important waterway though.
What the eye can see.
What you call a “waterway” was probably a “wetland” trying to recreate its natural state rather than being “drain” which is what you actually want. Wetlands are ecological refuges.
My eyes began to water when reading and I read there were reeds in the water that caused a flood over the road at Uncle Tom’s. Do we need a boat with oars that we can row over the road? No this was no pie in the sky stuff at Uncle Tom’s Pie corner. I took a bite and the gravy of my pie at the corner began to dribble. What oh what are the reeds doing there in the water blocking the water and then backs up that water and spills it all over the road. They were growing, that’s what. That is what they were doing, must have had a green council in for the past 12 months. Reeds growing in the water blocking it up..The traffic was stopped and some cars that were backed up were backing up and surely the drivers were getting angry and had their backs up for what they had to front, a flood all because some reeds were growing the water. It would bring a tear to your eye. Reeds? You would not read about it.
Just what was council doing in 2021? No worries, we have a new council in 2022 and the waterways and the byways and channels and the drains will all be cleaned for the voters who voted them in.
No worries.
We will have the same mayor.