Following on from John Hartnett (The Advertiser 11/11) and Jan Crosdale (The Advertiser 25/11), Edgeworth Street’s Jason Peters is also still out of his home from the April floods and is calling on council to provide plans and dates for flood remediation.

Mr Peters said he feels council are trying to calm the residents about flooding issues, but are yet to provide a solution or even a timeline for works to commence.

He said that it was not until he notified council that he would not be paying his rates that council directors wanted to meet with him.

Mr Peters claims that during the approximately two-hour meeting, the directors did nothing but make excuses and give vague assurances that something would be done.

“When pressed, none of these assurances had any substance – their intention was simply, in my opinion, to placate us with empty promises,” he said.

“It’s all just an attitude of keep them quiet, keep them paying their rates.”

Mr Peters said he pressed them for specific answers such as a work commencement date, scope of works and a timeline of events, but was not given any specific details.

The only firm commitment he said they made was that council would be forced to commence legal action if Mr Peters refused to pay his rates.

“Being forced to pay council rates while effectively being homeless is the ultimate insult,” he said.

Mr Peters said he is not for or against any type of works to fix the issue and is not seeking compensation for damages; he just wants council to “own the problem and provide a date.”

“Whatever they decided to do, give us a date when it’s going to start,” he said.

“If it’s not going to be for another 20 years, be honest about it and let us move.”

Mr Peters said he even offered council to pay upfront to have his property raised above previous flood levels if council would compensate him, but council refused.

“I like this house and area, I’d like to stay here,” he said.

“It’s [flooding] just so disruptive to your lives.”

A council representative has advised that the Cessnock City (Black Creek) flood study will be completed by the end of December.

Once the study is completed the final stages of the process will involve the preparation of a flood risk management plan followed by implementation of the plan.