Last week’s storms caused considerable damage to some businesses and homes in Harden, and clean-up operations and damage cost calculations are still ongoing. The rain was so heavy that 38 mm fell in the first downpour Monday afternoon, April 6th. The rain continued through the next day, with the storm water quickly exposing the weak points in the town’s drainage infrastructure.
Flooding heavily affected Bunyip Preschool in Binalong Street, with water flowing down through properties above it fronting Swift Street and into the lower building of the Preschool. The Preschool was closed on April 7th whilst staff cleaned up the facility.
Frustratingly, for many, known blockage points in pipes and gutters in the town caused water to back up and inundate yards and sheds. This is exactly what happened to Scott Street resident, Bob Randell (pictured).
Bob’s property does not have concrete kerb and guttering, and a concrete pipe under Lucan Street at the corner of his property is often blocked, causing water to back up. In Monday and Tuesday’s heavy rain, the corner of Scott and Lucan Streets became a veritable lake, with water reaching the bottom of the hedges at a property across Lucan Street from Bob. With the water from the rain unable to pass through the pipe, it backed up and flowed down through Bob’s backyard and into his shed.
After Bob unblocked the exit of the pipe with a crowbar, the water receded. Shire Council workers then arrived, and cleared some of the gutter of grass and allowed the water to escape. But the pipe still remains partly blocked, “I have been in this house for 25 years,” said Bob, “and that was the first time I have ever seen the Shire try to clear up that gutter.”
“I’ve always had to do what I can myself,” he added.
For Bob, the blocked street gutters in front of his house have often caused water to back up. But the sheer amount of water, in conjunction with his beloved shed being flooded, has greatly irritated him this time.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” said Bob. “I have asked the Shire a several times to come and clear the gutters and the pipe, but they never did anything. They want you to pay your rates, but then they don’t do what you’re paying them for.”
Bob is concerned that the lack of Council action in maintaining the gutters and unblocking pipes has caused preventable flooding.
After last week’s heavy rains, the weak points in Harden-Murrumburrah’s storm water drainage system have certainly been highlighted. Whether anything will be done to address them, remains to be seen.
