We seem to rely way too much on Byron Council and councillors to have the knowledge or expertise in assessing developments like Wallum in Bayside, Brunswick.
Nor will Council or councillors take responsibility for these poor decisions. I have asked about the stormwater channel leading into Everett Creek; this drain has erosion, the undermining of tall timbers and the ever-increasing erosion is very obvious.
Clarence Property Group have said its ‘not their problem’ as it is not part of their land. Council say: ‘oh we can’t intervene as to shore it up would cause more habitat damage just to get the necessary work completed’.
So it’s supposed to be a natural occurrence. You’re telling me that large trees being undermined and falling into the stormwater drain will be fine? It won’t dam up the drain, it will allow the stormwater to flow on around it?
The need to build up the land out of flood level requires a metre of fill. This is a real concern as the preschool had been built on a slab and will sit lower than the new estate which will be much higher allowing stormwater to flow down.
Our stormwater system has become impaired with approximately 22 reoccurring sinkholes in our roads outside stormwater drains. Council has promised to fix this problem soon – according to the state government Council have no funding to do anything. To fix our stormwater drains the roads must be dug up and new pipes laid with the proper installation of geofabric and gravel base (missing from the old pipe system, hence the pipework has collapsed out of its rubber collars).
It would seem Council and councillors are oblivious to way too many existing problems. Don’t get me started on our gravity-fed sewerage system with the pump lower in the ground than the existing preschool building!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
