Get the basics right

Again, there was a backyard full of sewage after heavy rain over two days.

This will continue to flow for the duration of the rain and beyond. Along with regular heavy flooding, this sewage has been a visitor to our backyard for the last 19 years. The all-toofamiliar solution is to suck the sewage up, pumping out the sewer line, and spread lime. The preferred explanations include a big ‘‘fat ball’’ in the pipe up the road and groundwater ‘‘seeping’’ into the sewage line.

Why is this still happening? Is addressing ongoing stormwater and sewage flow on to residential properties a low priority on the south side of Inglewood?

We were advised 19 years ago after the first event that it was a once-in-50-year storm. Yet we have been experiencing a 50-year storm every year. Moreover, this is not just an isolated occurrence in the street. Neighbours have had basement toilets overflowing with sewage and deep impromptu lakes.

The street has broken, narrow and unusable footpaths, ineffective stormwater grates, and stormwater draining directly on to footpaths.

Surely the council’s priority is to provide and maintain basic infrastructure first?

At the same time, the council continues to permit new subdivisions on the same road that feed into an already ineffective sewage and stormwater system. Shouldn’t the council get the basics right before we find the new subdivision’s no.2s in our backyard?

Gavin and Ingrid Dodunski-Wiid, Inglewood