Meeting Summary
Summary of the Community meeting held at Kareela Golf Club “Floodwatch Central” 7:30pm 16 December 2009
There were approximately 250 members of the community present from several surrounding suburbs
• There was not a member of the community who was aware of any current flood studies or that the draft plans were on exhibition
• The reasons put forward by the consultants for commissioning the flood study were seen as a nonsense by the community
• The community was very vocal insisting that SSC allow specialist consultants join the committee for the purpose of representing the community
• The community was united as one against this matter
• The community was outraged by the following:
◦ The map produced by the consultants portraying a "5 year flood existing conditions" was an extreme misrepresentation of reality, as were the other maps
◦ Council 's reactive and minimalist approach to drain and culvert maintenance was appalling and neglectful
◦ Council's self centred indemnity and self preservation measures will significantly and negatively impact the value of thousand of residents and possibly destroy their financial security, property values and insurability. Council is ignoring the negative consequences that will no doubt affect residents, property owners and possibly all residents of the shire.
◦ The expense associated with this study should be diverted to maintenance of drains and culverts, then there wouldn’t be any problem whatsoever
◦ The consultants have based their draft studies on the following event occurring simultaneously:
■ An extreme and prolonged rainfall event
■ Excessively or totally blocked drains and culverts
■ A low pressure system over our area
■ Extreme winds from the north-east
■ Extreme high tides
■ Add to the above; the effect of an unproven theory of rising sea levels as a result of global warming
• The big one! An admission in the consultants own draft studies that reads: "The Policy provides some legal protection for Councils and other public authorities and their staff against claims for damages resulting from their issuing advice or granting approvals on floodplains, providing they have acted substantially in accordance with the principles contained in the Floodplain Development Manual" (see also below).
• This liability matter is also reflected in the NSW Govt. Floodplain Development Manual, http://www.dnr.nsw.gov.au/floodplains/pdf/2_flood_manual.pdf
• There was a no confidence motion put forward, the community unanimously voted in favour of that motion
• Malcolm Kerr (present) stated that this matter had undoubtedly more to do with council indemnity and self protectionism than any flood threat
• Malcolm also stated that the localised flood that occurred on the corner of Taren Point Rd and Parraweena Rd & Box Rd's in May 1993 was directly caused by poorly maintained, blocked an inefficient drains and blocked down stream culverts. No other influence was associated with this localised flooding, however, it is listed as the reason by Bewsher Consulting in their own draft study as the catalyst for this study.
