Flood plan down the drain

By Alison Noonan
THE flood gates will remain open in one of Pearcedale’s wettest streets after residents last week refused to pay for vital drainage work.
Concerned Cherry Street residents alerted Casey Council to the problem after flooding occurred on low-lying land, serviced by an open drain system flowing through the back of Pearcedale Road properties.
Run-off water had nowhere to go with lower-lying properties inundated after rainfall.
The council had planned to recover the full cost of the construction of a new drainage system through its special charge scheme which requires residents to fund works that they will ultimately benefit from.
However, the council was forced to abandon the scheme after eight of the 12 affected residents refused to contribute.
A report presented to last week’s council meeting stated that the few land owners in favour of the scheme were the properties most-affected by the drainage problem.
It said the affected properties were continually flooded by the stormwater discharge from the surrounding homes.
“The proposed drainage scheme can be reviewed to at least provide an outfall for the low properties,” the report said.
“The properties will still receive the overland stormwater from the surrounding properties but will have an outfall to allow the water to escape.”
Council officers will now hold further discussions with the property owners on their willingness to contribute to a reduced drainage scheme.