The alarms were installed by Kurri Landcare after the 2007 floods that caused millions of dollars damage in Abermain and Weston.

They were designed to give residents warning that the creek was rising, and to evacuate if necessary.

Two alarms were erected in Abermain and two in Weston, at a cost of $2800 to Landcare – money they didn’t have, but found.

But, despite the recommendations of at least six flood studies, council did not install its own or take over the maintenance of these alarms.

The solar cells failed after seven years of operation, so Kurri Landcare made a much cheaper version that had the siren mounted on the float switch box.

Unfortunately, this meant in Tuesday’s downpour, the waves travelling upstream flooded the alarm’s siren before it sounded.

Kurri Landcare president Col Maybury said he wasn’t aware of backwater waves until hearing about the tragedy at Maitland, where a female motorist was washed away.

“Backwater waves, BW, are sudden wave reflections travelling upstream,” he said.

“I did not know of this till the lady was killed at Maitland, washed off the Fishery Creek causeway by a BW.

“The BW at Abermain and for one of the alarms at Weston flooded the siren. The sirens have been raised much higher so this cannot happen.

“I apologise for my lack of knowledge of backwater waves and the too-low placement of the sirens. It has been corrected.”

Mr. Maybury said it was “absolutely disgusting” that Cessnock City Council has taken no action since the 2007 flood.

“Council, I think any reasonable person would presume, has been incompetent in flood amelioration since 1992,” he said.

Council has done 11 flood studies in that time, and told Mr. Maybury in 2013 that the creek would be dredged. 

Mr. Maybury has also called on Cessnock City Council to remove the severe restrictions under the bridges at Abermain, and to install concrete block dams on the HEZ detention basins and the Hebburn Dam and at the power lines corridor in HEZ, south of Fan Hill, Abermain.

“I took Mayor Pynsent and the flood engineer to HEZ and showed them detention basins that could be used to slow the rate of rise at Weston and Abermain. Nothing was done,” he said.

Mr. Maybury said he will be applying to address the May 6 council meeting to speak about flooding issues.

A council spokesperson said council is committed to fulfilling the actions set out in the Swamp Fishery Risk Management Study and Plan, which affects residents in the Weston and Abermain area, as soon as is practicable.

Priority works identified in the plan includes vegetation removal and management.

Environmental assessment and localised design work is also required to enable works to be undertaken. The assessment and design is expected to take 12-to-18 months to complete.

"In light of the recent natural disaster, our current focus is assessing damage to infrastructure in the community and public safety," the spokesperson said.

"We have been on the ground this week mapping the flood affected areas and collecting additional flood level data.

"This will help inform council’s floodplain modelling for the catchment and also to determine the size of the recent event."