Any action to repair Wollongong’s failed flood modelling is still years away, with the city council now beginning the process of assembling new review committees.
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Monday night’s meeting of Wollongong City Council will vote on creating committees to oversee catchment areas across the city. Each will have two councillors, plus council staff, government, industry and community representation.
These will replace the committees created after the 1998 floods to oversee a decades-long process of studies and management plans. While most of these have been completed some are still in progress.
Reviewing the flood mapping has been funded with $1 million over two years, in addition to $350,000 already spent.
The council’s current method for modelling flood risk is being replaced because it producing exaggerated models of flood risk, even in areas that have never flooded.
Insurance premiums have skyrocketed and renovations made more difficult under the exaggerated models, which will remain in place until the next reviews are complete.
Ward 1 Councillor Greg Petty said ratepayers have paid the price for bungling and no end was in sight.
“It appears after 18 years, we are starting the whole process again,” he said.
“At what cost to the community of affected landowners, and to the community, of 18 years of cost impost without a constructive outcome?
“We have a responsibility to immediately provide relief to the suffering affected land owners.”
Wollongong City Council was told by experts in 2009 that its flood modelling system was “flawed and overprescriptive”. But it took concerted action from Figtree residents and a reporting campaign in the Mercury in 2015 to spark any action.
We have a responsibility to immediately provide relief to the suffering affected landowners
- Cr Greg Petty
“We need to stop costing our ratepayers needless amounts of money in unnecessary construction costs and inflated insurance premiums,” Cr Petty said.
“I cannot support 18 years of mismanagement and bureaucratic bungling to continue without a safety valve for the community to seek justice and fair play.”