RESIDENTS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WAIT FOUR YEARS OR MORE FOR BACKFLOW VALVES OR TO BE TOLD IF THEY ARE GETTING A BACK FLOW VALVE
06 June, 2012
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The installation of special valves to prevent backflow flooding from Council’s stormwater drains is long overdue and new valves should’ve been in place long before now, says The Gabba Ward Councillor Helen Abrahams.
“It has taken the Lord Mayor and his Administration 15 months before they agreed to install backflow valves in areas flooding in January 2011 as a result of public pressure.
Councillor Helen Abrahams said the Lord Mayor didn’t commit funding for backflow valves in the current budget and to pay for today’s announcement he’s cut funding from major drainage construction.
“Today’s announcement means next year we will only address flooding in three locations – Milton, Chelmer and the CBD – meaning residents in other areas won’t have backflow values installed until up to four years time.
“The first area in The Gabba Ward to have a back-flow installed is Ryan Street West End in 2014-15 financial year. Worse still the only other four sites in The Gabba Ward have to wait till 2016-17 for the installation of backflow valves. These are:
Goodwin Street, Kangaroo Point,
Dudley Street, Highgate Hill,
Vulture Street, West End
Mollison and Montague Road West End
Ferry and Montague Roads, West End
Kurilpa and Drury Streets, West End
“I call on the Lord Mayor to release the remaining 20% site identified for back flow valves to be constructed post 2017” said Cr Abrahams.
“Residents who were flooded deserve to know today whether they will have a back flow valve installed to prevent flooding in their street. It is not good enough for them to be kept in the dark till 2017” said Helen Abrahams
“The Lord Mayor is gambling with the safety of people’s homes by delaying the installation of the majority of the back-flow valves in four years or later while at the same time he cut back Council spending on major drainage construction.
“Everybody knows the damaging affects the January 2011 flood had on local people’s homes and business – I’m concerned that the Lord Mayor continues to delay this important project.
“Brisbane residents who were flooded by stormwater surges have already waited 15 months – they shouldn’t have to wait another four years or more,” Councillor Dick said.
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Fast Facts:
• During the January floods storm water flooding affected suburbs such as the CBD, New Farm, Milton, Rosalie, South Brisbane, West End, East Brisbane, Woolloongabba, Hawthorne, Bulimba, Fig Tree Pocket, Graceville, Fairfield, Sherwood and Chelmer, along with many others.
• After the January floods, the LNP were reluctant to investigate back-flow valves and even argued against the technology in the Council Chamber.
• On 24 May 2011, Labor Councillors moved a formal Council motion calling on Council to establish a task group to investigate the cost/benefit of installation of state-of-the-art back-flow valves in stormwater drainage systems around the city, but the LNP Council Administration refused to debate the issue.
• Since the January 2011 floods, the Labor Opposition has presented hundreds of petitions calling for an immediate open and transparent inquiry into backflow valves.
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