Lower Georges River and Gwawley Bay Flood Threat
Sutherland Shire Council (SSC) has formed a committee and appointed specialist consultants for the purpose of considering the effects of climate change and localised flooding associated with an extreme weather event in a worst case scenario combined with the unproven theory of rising sea level as a result of global warming. These consultants have created a model that incredibly combines the effects of a 1 in 100 year flood, combined with extreme tides and winds and excessively blocked drains and unrealistically high sea levels, and then model how this improbable and cataclysmic even may effect homes in many parts of the Sutherland Shire, at this stage, this study effects thousands of homes in the Lower Georges River and Gwawley Bay areas.
Our community needs to be concerned that the SSC Floodplain Committee document clearly identifies that one major driver of this matter is indemnity for the SSC and their employees. This indemnity comes at little price to the people who seek it, but an immense cost to the community who are effected by this study.
To give you some understanding of the magnitude of this matter, the following list is just some of the points considered important to date:
• The assessment of levels for flooding has been endorsed only by the consultants and Sutherland Shire Council, and have been rejected by the members of the committee representing the residents
• All objections to the Consultants Formulae and Assessments have been rejected by the SSC and the consultants
• It appears there has been minimal effort to ensure the community is aware that the draft findings of this study have been made available for community perusal and response. This matter may involve a significant change in the Local Environment Plan (LEP). It seems amazing that there has not been a single response from any member of the community to the draft findings to date. Even those on the committee were not aware it had been advertised for community consultation by SSC
• The Council's consultants have identified and reported the 4 probable reasons for localised flooding - one of these four reasons is the lack of councils maintenance of storm water systems
• A draft design was submitted to the SSC by the Community Representatives detailing ways of overcoming flood risk - this was adopted by the Councils consultants - and yet no action to start any works have been commissioned
• Council do not appear to be providing any proactive maintenance program for the storm water systems in the effected areas
• The Council intend to change the LEP which will most probably and significantly de-value properties in the area, and cause significant financial hardship for many home owners
• It appears the consultants and the SSC appear to have pre determined the outcome and are steering this matter towards achieving that goal
• We believe there is an urgent need to fully assess and consider any variation to the LEP and how residents may suffer by those proposed changes
• The community should request for the committee to delay publishing any potentially damaging information or drafts until this matter is fully and thoroughly by independent specialist consultants
• Any variations to the LEP should recommend raising floor heights on new construction only, and that existing dwellings are not effected by the committee findings
• The are no conclusive records of properties suffering flood damage in the Lower Georges River and Gwawley Bay areas other than those effected by trapped rainfall due to poor council maintenance or poor drainage
Summary
• A need for identification of flood prone land must be without doubt & include historic proof - and not be subject to failure of maintenance of the storm water system
• Change to the LEP must only effect new construction, major renovations and infrastructure, especially to improve drainage and to widen culverts
• Council should identify what actions will be taken to the infrastructure if they pursue this new LEP - roads, drains, electricity sub-stations, phone systems, sewer pumping stations, bridges
• Council must ensure any enquiry or DA should comply to the intent of the forthcoming LEP change immediately
