Byron Greens’ councillor Duncan Dey will ask for a suite of drainage works to be done on the west side of South Golden Beach at this week’s Council planning meeting.
Cr Dey said he had been asked to undertake the works by residents of the area who said inadequate and poorly maintained drainage infrastructure had contributed to the damage done during the February floods.
‘Some of the actions could be implemented early and rapidly,’ Cr Dey said in his written notice of motion.
‘Many should already be budgeted for as maintenance with no reason not to undertake them this financial year.’
‘Others mesh with projects articulated in the North Byron Shire Floodplain Plan as adopted in 2020. Still others may be seen as new and thus require allocation in Council’s budget.’
Cr Dey’s motion follows claims by residents, reported in last week’s Echo, that basic infrastructure in the north of the Shire had been suffering from long-term neglect.
Despite having 30 per cent of the Shire’s housing, the north of the Shire reportedly receives a disproportionately low slice of the infrastructure funding pie.
Sewerage pipes and drains are apparently among the most neglected infrastructure, with some drains remaining uncleared for 15 years.
Among the key works being requested by Cr Dey is inspection and maintenance of the flood gates in South Golden Beach including reinstalling seals on gates and removing mud accumulated on the concrete apron downstream.
Cr Dey will also ask for the recommencement and completion of the backyard easement project that began back in 2015. He will also seek an investigation into whether South Golden Beach, west of Capricornia Canal, could benefit from a flood pump system similar to the one servicing the east side.
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