Drainage concerns for Lara

LARA residents have called on the council to fix the town’s drains after recent rains left some properties with water pooling out the front.

It comes after 6000 properties were reclassified as flood zones, prompting discussion about the town’s drainage and stormwater maintenance.

“It would be good to get drains set up so we have water flows somewhere, and they’re cleaned out properly,” resident Ryan Dew said.

“What was once paddocks are now houses and roads, and that water doesn’t have anywhere to go.”

Sharon Seymour said spoon drains were often clogged and a headache for locals.

“We’ve lived in Lara for 14 years now, and no one has ever come out to do the spoon drains,” Ms Seymour said.

“The council is allowing housing in new developments and it’s obviously putting more water and strain on to the creek.”

CoGG city services director Guy Wilson-Browne said a number of drains had been included for the annual renewal program.

“We have a number of drainage projects that are planned for delivery,” Mr Wilson-Browne said.

“Residents are able to contact us and request upgrades. We then investigate and prioritise any works based on their impacts on public safety and urgency.”

The city forecast $14.1m would be spent on drainage in this financial year, but breakdowns were not available for individual suburbs.

There are concerns Lara’s flood rezoning could jeopardise insurance policies and impact house prices.

When Lara’s Flood Report was tabled last year, the growing population and climate change were cited as factors putting pressure on systems.