When Bangalow gets more than 60mm of rain in 24 hours, water goes on that small section of Deacon Street. After the recent isolated freak downpour, locals knew water would go over that little street.
I went down on Friday at 12pm to photograph it, because I knew it would be flooded.
If Council’s flood study is so accurate, then why the heck did services not evacuate that tiny little area of Bangalow before cars ended up floating in floodwaters?
Bangalow residents knew damn well heavy rain was imminent. So why didn’t the authorities?
How can we trust Council’s flood study, which was apparently conducted over years, when locals know that the flooding is because of the masses of soil clogging Byron Creek!
Byron Creek in Bangalow is full of mud/soil – mountains of it!
It is largely because our appointed ‘environmental caregivers’ have killed the old growth camphor trees by poisoning them.
They have destroyed the root systems that had been securely holding the riverbank in place for decades.
After they die, they fall into the creek, along with vast quantities of soil!
It’s also important to mention the freshly cleared acre of soil on the southern hill from Piccabeen Park.
If we really care about our community and town, surely we would address the desperate issue of removing the vast quantities of soil deposited in Byron Creek, as it is direct result of so called ‘landcare’ activities.
Byron Creek, Bangalow, desperately needs to be dredged!
We could dredge out the soil with a little portable pump like we use at muddy festivals, we could even get the community to remove ‘a bucket a day’ incentive to remove this flood causing sediment.
The creek is choked to the gills with soil!
Our latest Council seem to be on a rampage – they are transforming our naturally beautiful and easy to visit public areas, and turning them into ugly, cleared, flat, boring spaces that are blazing with glaring sun, and consequently rendering our parks ‘user unfriendly’.
Can Council please be transparent?
Why won’t they show us their grand, finished plan for Bangalow already?
Perhaps its the fear of public reaction, should we see the absolute mess they’re about to make of our beautiful little town.
Please, don’t let our air-conditioned jewel of the Shire be over-developed in this under-handed way.
Just dredge.
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. 
