Down the drain

By Melissa Meehan
WALKING through the homes of Tynong residents left devastated by the floods it’s hard to imagine water waist deep raging through the area.
The grass is green and there was no water to be seen last Thursday when the sun was shining bright.
The only reminders of the devastating flash flooding are the stacks of wet carpet and household items on the front lawn, not to mention the watermark left on the exterior.
Janette Fisher’s eyes fill with tears as she looks around her home. While she was able to get most of her possessions to higher ground, carpet needs to be replaced, her heating and cooling systems are ruined – not to mention her flooring.
Mould is rising and the force of the flood water picked up her outdoor spa bath and moved it down the verandah.
“I’ve been on the phone to the insurance company for hours,” she said.
“But they finally said I could get the ball moving.”
Next door Maryka and Tim Collins have already started ripping up their wet carpet.
Maryka said the water was as high as Janette’s front gate by the time she returned to her home after moving her pets up the street.
“It was so high that the girl next door to me was neck deep in water,” she said. “It was scary.”
Both women say this is not the first time Railway Avenue has flooded – it has been inundated six times in the past 18 months.
“If the drains opposite us were cleared, as they should have been, this would never have happened,” Ms Fisher said.
“We’ve been forgotten about, and it’s not good enough.”
Cardinia Shire spokesman said the council was aware of the drainage problems within the Railway Avenue area in Tynong.
“The main cause of these issues relate to sections of the outfall drains that pass under the railway line,” he said.
“We require specific permits and approval to access V/Line property to conduct maintenance on these drains.
“V-Line also needs to conduct maintenance on the drainage network under their control.”
He said the council had completed a detailed audit of the areas requiring maintenance and is working closely with V-Line to gain necessary approvals to complete these works.
It is anticipated the works will commence in early 2011.