Resident starts flood action group

A Woy Woy resident fed up with Gosford Council's flood management efforts in the Peninsula has started a new community action group.

Mr Tony Maddern, who also started the Woy Woy Floods Facebook page, has convened the Woy Woy Peninsula Flood Action Group to pressure council to take ongoing flood management issues in the region out of the 'too hard basket'.

According to Mr Maddern the overall aim of the new Action Group is to get flooding issues on the Woy Woy Peninsula fixed, and more than 70 residents already joining the Action Group that Mr Maddern formed at the start of May.

"In the short term, we are working to get our storm water drains and ditches cleared out and we're working to get our main drainage canals which lead into the sea, such as the Everglades Main Drain cleared out to their original state or better, so they can work effectively," Mr Maddern said.

"I formed the group because the flooding was ridiculous and council was doing next to nothing," Mr Maddern continued.

"Residents had been writing to and council for years about the issue and still nothing was done.

"So I formed the Group to give the community one united voice," he said.

According to Mr Maddern the flooding in the Woy Woy Peninsula alone has become unmanageable with flood water remaining at peak heights after the initial rain.

Mr Maddern also said the flood waters were a constant nuisance to residents causing excessive damage to vehicles and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitos and other pests.

"These are just issues plaguing the Woy Woy Peninsula," Mr Maddern said

"Since starting the Action Group I've received emails from residents across the Peninsula region as a whole fed up with the state of the regions flood management," he added.

Since forming the Group Mr Maddern has met with Gosford Council representatives on two separate occasions to outline the issues surrounding the Woy Woy Peninsula flood zones and to discuss action plans.

Council's Director of Operations and Construction, Mr Stan Antczak met with Mr Maddern and the Action Group on May 6, in the Park at Vernon Rd, an area with a notorious drainage issue, to discuss the Everglades Main Drain and other areas on the Peninsula that needed work.

Mr Maddern said Mr Antczak asked the Action Group to work closely with Council to continue to identify areas of priority

The Action Group also met with council's Mr Jay Spare who confirmed council would start working on the Everglades Drain in August of this year weather permitting.

Mr Maddern said work on this drain would greatly improve the section of Vernon Rd that suffered from consistent flooding and would tie in with the Groups long term goals.

"In the long term, we are working to have our storm water drainage infrastructure upgraded completely to accommodate for the new housing, granny flats, multi-residence housing which is currently putting an enormous strain on the drainage in periods of heavy rain, causing flooding to many streets such as Lovell Rd, Veron Rd, Mackenzie Ave, Norma Crescent, North Burge Rd and even some sections of Ocean Beach Rd," he concluded.

The Woy Woy Peninsula Flood Action Group's next meeting will be at the Everglades Country Club on May 17, at 7pm.

Interview, 12 May 2016

Tony Maddern, Woy Woy

Reporter, Dilon Luke