Recent flooding during heavy rains, impacting more than 800 homes in Brighton, has once again ignited calls to upgrade the locale’s stormwater drainage originally built in 1946.
A petition, currently with over 200 signatures, has been the second filed this year asking Council to address this longstanding problem amidst the ongoing developments in Maclean St that could further clog the outdated drainage.
According to Marni Linnell, who created the petition, there are over 50 developments in Brighton that raised concerns about flooding in the area. Despite her previous petition in April 2022, which received 710 signatures, Council has apparently continued to “dodge” their concerns as the developments are still moving forward sans the drainage fix.
“BCC responded to community concerns by asking a developer to model the difference in flood to 200 ha upstream of Beaconsfield Bridge,” Ms Linnell said. “This fundamentally placates and dodges our concerns that there’s insufficient capacity for drainage for development to proceed.”
“We insist on a stop of Maclean Street development until this code assessment is complete for compliance with section 7 of BCC City Plan (stormwater).
“Given federal and state governments have offered to pay 50% of upgrade costs, this is an urgent call to action for Colin Jensen to upgrade Flinders and Beaconsfield Bridges to comply with City Plan prior to the upcoming third La Niña event.”
One local recalled that the last upgrade to the drainage near Beaconsfield bridge was in the 1970s but the shift to a concrete pipe design did not mitigate the floods.
Reports cited, however, that Council believes a drainage upgrade might not solve completely solve the flooding problems of residents near Brighton creek as it is a low-lying area.
Meanwhile, Brighton residents, including those impacted by the Brighton Wetlands during heavy rains, have set up the Deagon Ward Flooding Action Group to save their homes from further flooding damage.
“It absolutely blows my mind that the community is having to take the initiative and do this. Speaks volumes to the reactive rather than proactive approach of government,” one local said.
