No new drains until plan completed

No major work will be done to improve drainage in Shephard and Glenn Sts, Umina, until the Woy Woy Peninsula Floodplain Management Plan is completed.

However, Gosford Council's city services manager Mr Stephen Glen told council that the maintenance section would continue to maintain the drains as part of its area maintenance program.

He was responding to a petition from local residents who had asked for extra drainage after Shephard St was closed for several hours due to flooding.

Mr Glen said that contractors had been engaged to clear blockages in the pits between Shepard and Glenn Sts.

They removed accumulated silt and detritus.

The street was monitored during subsequent storm events and a street sweeper was deployed to remove debris and sediment deposited in the street.

Mr Glen said City Services officers had reviewed the reported flooding history, existing drainage layout and topography of the area surrounding Shepard St to ascertain the reasons behind the flooding.

He said existing storm water drainage pipes served a reasonably large catchment.

They were installed at shallow grades due to the topography of the area.

This has resulted in low storm water flow velocities which, during heavy rainfall, fail to effectively convey the storm water downstream.

This in turn caused flooding of the road.

He said residents should contact Council's Customer Service Centre if they feel that maintenance is needed on the drainage in their streets.

Gosford Council Agenda COR.120, 1 Nov 2011