Trafalgar businesses seek flood answers
Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce is hopeful a solution can be found to drainage issues which has caused localised flooding in the town’s main street during recent storm events.
BK’s Takeaway owner Brendan Kingwill said the chamber had been concerned about safety issues that came with recent flooding on the Princes Freeway.
“We’ve informed the appropriate authorities, but we didn’t know what the problem was and didn’t know where to go,” he said.
“I’ve had my business in Trafalgar for 20 years and haven’t seen it this bad, it’s happened three times in the past three months.
“The drainage isn’t suitable and needs cleaning out but we’re not sure where the problem is.
“Is it coming from under the freeway, somewhere else in the town, or over the other side of the railway line?
“We haven’t got those answers to bring it to someone’s attention.”
Posting to the Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce Facebook page, shop owner Phoebe Rae said her shop had flooded twice.
“(It) only didn’t the second time because of the advance warnings the BOM gave us and sandbags from the SES,” she said.
“It’s excessive rain and this is Gippsland but this is worse than normal.
“The drainage needs addressing in the centre of town urgently.
“Mopping up again in the middle of our only holiday break each year.”
A spokesperson for Baw Baw Shire Council said while main highways were essentially the responsibility of VicRoads, Council recognised the need to work with VicRoads and other authorities to address inundation issues.
“The draft West Gippsland Floodplain Management Strategy identifies the need to address flooding on the highway,” the spokesperson said.
“West Gippsland CMA conducted extensive public consultations as part of their strategy process.
“Once approved by the minister and released by DELWP, which is expected to be soon, the final strategy will be available in the public domain.”
The spokesperson said while drainage works in Trafalgar have been planned by council in 2018-20, these works would not address the highway flooding issue.