South Cessnock residents have found themselves dreading the sound of raindrops – and don’t get them started on the phrase ‘east coast low’.
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Several homes in ‘Southy’ were among the hardest hit in the floods of February 1990, June 2007 and April 2015.
Mine subsidence that occurred in the 1980s is believed to be a contributing factor to the flooding, prompting Cessnock City Council’s application to Subsidence Advisory NSW for compensation of $7 million towards flood mitigation works including a bund wall.
While the application was rejected, council wasn’t deterred, voting at its July 4 meeting to aim even higher and seek funding to construct a retention basin worth $30 million on the eastern side of South Cessnock.
The council will write to Minister for Finance, Services and Property, Victor Dominello, to seek intervention and support for its compensation claim.
Councillor Di Fitzgibbon moved the resolution urging council to push for the $30 million claim, saying the $7 million claim for flood mitigation work falls “way short of a real solution”.
“I believe it would be like putting a teacup under a roof leak – great when it is not raining, OK when it is a shower, but useless in a large storm event,” she said.
Cr Fitzgibbon said the community is sick of “that will do” actions, and called on the State Government to front up with funding from its $40 million reserve for historical mining claims and fix the “decades-old” flooding issues in South Cessnock.
“Put an end to the years of worry and misery felt by our good South Cessnock residents every time a large storm is forecast,” she said.
“Stop the finger-pointing, take responsibility and build the basin.”
Phil and Barbara Baird have lived in Gordon Avenue for 62 years and have been flooded twice in recent years.
Around the corner in Oliver Street, Gary and Denise Jack’s home of 48 years has flooded four times since 1990.
Both couples say they are fearful every time it rains, and that the situation only appears to be getting worse over time.
The Jacks were displaced from their home for six months after the April 2015 superstorm, and the creek flooded again just weeks after they moved back in.
Council received word from the Mine Subsidence Board in May that its $7 million claim for flood mitigation work would be recommended for refusal at the board’s June meeting.
Council sought further feedback from residents, which suggests the detention basin would receive the highest level of community support.
The detention basin would have a similar cost to the purchase of all flood-affected properties and would also reduce flooding in Cessnock CBD.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said it was well worth pursuing the higher claim.
“If we don’t apply, we’ve got no hope,” he said.
“Over the years, the flooding has affected so many residents in the area and something needs to be done about it sooner rather than later.
“It has been identified that 15 homes in South Cessnock experience over-floor flooding in a one-in-five-year flood event and this wouldn’t happen if subsidence hadn’t occurred.
“Council believes that a retention basin on the eastern side of South Cessnock would be the best option to mitigate flooding in the area rather than a bund wall.
“While this won’t completely eliminate flooding in the South Cessnock area, it will certainly reduce the impact on local residents.”
