New community group launched to push for flood protection
The group recently launched a petition which has gained hundreds of signatures and held their first public meeting this week. Here’s what happened:
Bundaberg
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They’ve only been going for a few weeks but already a new flood protection group has gained the support of hundreds in the community.
The Bundaberg Flood Protection Group was established just before Easter by a group of concerned residents who want to see flood protection for those most at risk of future flooding.
The group recently began a petition calling on the state government and the Bundaberg Regional Council to review and implement flood protection measures that will protect those most at risk of future flood events.
So far, the petition has more than 700 signatures.
Since the levee funding was announced both the state government and Bundaberg Regional Council have repeatedly defended the infrastructure, saying the Bundaberg East Levee was the “best mitigation plan going forward”.
But the group’s president Sid McKeown said they held concerns about the Bundaberg East Flood Levee which the state government committed $42 million towards during the election campaign.
“The East Bundaberg Levee poses significant construction risks” he said.
“The Rockhampton flood levee was budgeted at $80 million and ended up blowing out to over $180 million and growing.
“The East Bundaberg Flood levee also does very little for the residents of North Bundaberg and other low lying suburbs who were heavily impacted by the 2013 floods.”
Local solicitor Tom Marland has also joined to group to advocate for change to the current proposals.
On Monday night the group held their first community meeting at the Railway Hotel giving them the chance to build support, tell the community what they were about and for attendees to ask questions.
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, Mr McKeown said their job at the first meeting was to spread the word and get numbers.
He also said it was all about the safety of the Bundaberg community.
Also speaking at the meeting, Mr Marland said the levee was a decision that would affect people for generations.
He said they weren’t there to analyse which route authorities should take.
“What we’re simply saying is all options should be put on the table,” he said.
“The East Bundaberg Levee is one option but it hasn’t been fully designed or fully costed and until such options are all fully designed and all fully costed, we cannot make a decision on what the long term flood protection measures of Bundaberg are.”
But while 50 people gathered at the meeting, not everyone was convinced on the cause.
One attendee posted on the group’s Facebook discussion after the meeting that some people felt “conned” saying the intentions should have been made clearer.
The groups president Sid McKeown responded to the post saying that some residents feared that accepting a $85 million levee investment wouldn’t leave any money left over for other flood mitigation proposals.
He also said there would be opportunities in the future to speak with council and politicians if they agreed to attend a meeting and the intention of the petition was to prove people weren’t happy.
More meetings are expected to be scheduled in the future, with the hopes of local politicians attending to discuss the issue.
To follow the group on social media click here.
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