Geelong Athletics’ Landy Field flood ‘avoidable’, user say, as council efforts slammed
Geelong athletics organisers have condemned the City of Greater Geelong for their mismanagement at Landy Field, where they say their inundation was preventable.
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Geelong athletics organisers have slammed the City of Greater Geelong for not preventing an “avoidable” flood of Landy Field.
The venue was flooded not because of the Barwon River – which came just short of breaching the bank at that site – but instead due to water bubbling up through the field’s drains.
Angry officials say the inundation could have been avoided and had been expecting the council to enact flood plans to protect the field and valuable rubberised track.
Geelong Athletics secretary Anna Devonish said two flood levee valves installed in the wake of the 1995 flood should have been closed to stop the water, which covered the track by 30-40cm.
She said the group tried urgently to contact council when it became apparent an emergency was unfolding, but were left frustrated by the lack of communication.
Ms Devonish said the flooding left about 900 athletes of all ages – and the hosting of the Victorian Country Championships in January 2023 – in limbo.
“We had a meeting with council on Wednesday knowing this was coming and we told them about these flood levee valves and said ‘You need to get down there and learn how to use them or how to work them, because we know this is going to happen’,” she said.
“It’s just frustrating. We sandbagged as much as we could.
“It’s devastating because we believe it was potentially avoidable.
“If the river had breached, we could accept that. That’s nature, we can’t stop that.
“It’s just because it came up through the drains is what is soul-destroying.”
City of Greater Geelong director of city services, Guy Wilson-Browne, said a review would be conducted into the “disappointing” incident.
“Our immediate priority is pumping the water out of the facility. This has been happening
since Saturday afternoon and will continue until all water is clear,” he said.
“Our staff worked extremely hard last week preparing the region for the pending flooding and continue to deal with the flooding emergency.
“We were in regular contact with the athletics club last week in preparation, including providing sandbags.
“However, we appreciate their frustration at the eventual outcome. We will speak to the club as part of our review to take on board their feedback.”
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Originally published as Geelong Athletics’ Landy Field flood ‘avoidable’, user say, as council efforts slammed
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