Neighbours raise drainage concerns

Drainage and flooding around a proposed new saleyards development in Longwarry continue to be a concern of residents surrounding the Thornell Rd site.

A number of residents presented questions to Baw Baw Shire Council’s meeting earlier this month, requesting answers from council on drainage, traffic and employment.

Residents also questioned the level of support in the community.

Cathy Digby asked how the drains in Thornell Rd would cope with the extra water flowing from the development.

She said the drains were already full so where would water from the saleyards go.

Ms Digby said the height of the drains on the roadside were higher, which stopped the water going onto the road but the other side, which is lower, flooded back into the family properties.

Mr Dupe said maintenance works undertaken on Thornell Rd were part of council’s roadside drains and flanking program.

“This program has seen several drains in the Longwarry, and Labertouche area systematically cleaned out over the past five years.

Mr Dupe said drainage systems were not generally designed to cater for unprecedented rain events such as those experienced on May 1 and 2, where high volumes of rain occurred over a relatively short period.

“However, it is anticipated once the rainfall stops, these areas would be able to drain much quicker than previously due to clearer drains.

With regards to the saleyards water, Mr Dupe said council had not accepted the submitted drainage strategy and requested further details including revised modelling with external catchment runoff to the site, impacts on the drainage along Thornell Rd, further details of the proposed wetland including max tailwater level, discharge and outlet details.

Mr Dupe said the saleyards development will be required to retain the current drainage flows so council will ensure runoff from the development will not have any adverse impact on surrounding properties.

Michelle Maes of Longwarry also raised concerns about the impact of recent rain on potholes and the road condition.

She said after the most recent rain, almost every pothole that has been repaired has now redeveloped due to trucks travelling around the township.

“The saleyards proposal will increase heavy vehicle traffic probably tenfold. Has there been any investigation into the cost of what will most likely be continual road repair?” she said.

Mr Dupe said any potholes and road defects reported to council located on roads maintained by council will be addressed and repaired based on council’s road management plan.

He said the majority of roads into and through Longwarry including Sand Rd, Koo wee rup–Longwarry Rd, Nar Nar Goon Longwarry Rd, Drouin–Longwarry Rd, Princes Ave and MacKay St were all the responsibility of Regional Roads Victoria.

Ms Maes said it also had been reported there were more than 600 people who voted for the saleyards development, but asked how many of them were Longwarry ratepayers.

Mr Dupe said council said 28 of the supporters and 65 of the objectors used the Longwarry post code in their submissions as part of their address.