THURSDAY, 6 JULY 2023
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Council adopts flood plan for Peninsula Central Coast Council has adopted the Woy Woy Peninsula Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (FRMSP), setting out measures to prepare for future flooding events. The plan will serve as a guide for priorities for Council, communities and the State Emergency Service (SES). Prepared by DHI Pty Ltd, the plan encompasses the Woy Woy Peninsula including the Kahibah Creek catchment. The FRMSP quantifies the nature and extent of existing floodingissuesandrecommends actions to better manage the existing, future, and continuing flood risk. It also seeks to build community resilience to flooding and includes flood mitigation works, emergency management plans, flood warning processes, land-use planning and suitable design of infrastructure and buildings. The draft documents were on public exhibition from January
18 to February 15, with submissions evaluated and proposed amendments for flood management made to the final FRMSP. The final report said the area was impacted by flooding from Brisbane Water as a result of ocean storm surge events and tidal inundation and catchment flooding as a result of rainfall events. “Ocean storm surge events result in the elevation of the Brisbane Water estuary levels and can lead to flooding of the low-lying areas of the peninsula,” it said. “During Brisbane Water flooding events, flood levels typically rise and fall over several hours, with inundation occurring for approximately five hours in a one per cent AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability) event. “Flood depths can be up to 0.9m at the peak of the one per cent AEP flood event in the areas with the lowest elevations.” The report found that risks
Flooding can be caused by tidal inundation and catchment overflow as a result of rainfall
associated with tidal inundation were not as significant on the Woy Woy Peninsula as other mechanisms of flooding. “However, in the future, as a result of sea level rise, a large proportion of the low-lying regions of the study area will be subjected to frequent inundation from high tides,” it said. “For example, in 2100, the lowest areas of the Woy Woy CBD will experience daily tidal depths of approximately 0.4m and king tide depths of approximately 0.7m.
“This will compromise the liveability of some portions of the suburbs through flooding of roads, services and private properties. “Flooding from Brisbane Water can also impact to capacity of the existing drainage system … with elevated flood levels restricting flow discharging from local catchment flooding.” Measures suggested in the plan include the installation of six infiltration devices along low-lying streets with a history
of ponding and nuisance flooding due to lack of drainage or drainage capacity even in minor flood events. It also suggests a review of evacuation centre locations and flood warning systems, the erection of more flood warning signage, flood education programs and recommendations on land use and development control planning. The most significant issues raised in the submissions included: the fact sea level rise
predictions are not informed by the latest International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports; insufficient consideration with respect to evacuation routes and access to Gosford Hospital; and general concern about the degree of development on the Woy Woy Peninsula and the increase in impervious surfaces on private property. A report to Council’s June 27 meeting said all submissions were considered by staff and consultants with minor amendments and clarifications made to the final version. Now that it has been adopted, the recommended actions identified within the FRMSP are eligible for grant funding from various external departments including the DPE under the NSW Floodplain Risk Management Program. Read the final report at www. yourvoiceourcoast.com/sites/def ault/files/2023-06/woywoyfrms _final2.1_mainvolume_r1.pdf Terry Collins
Reid hosts Voice information session at Hardys Bay Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid held a Voice to Parliament information session on Friday, June 30, at Hardys Bay Club. The small club was packed out to hear Reid’s reasoning for promoting the Yes campaign. Reid, who has Aboriginal heritage himself, initiated the discussions by explaining the historical background for the coming referendum. He first referred to numerous historical initiatives to acknowledge Indigenous Australians. He emphasised the 1967
Australian referendum where Australians voted to change the constitution so that, like all other Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population for constitutional purposes. He went on to list the numerous acknowledgments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including the Native Title Act of 1993 and the 2008 Apology to the Stolen Generations. The Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017 was what Reid called the largest consensus of First Nations peoples on a proposal for substantive
recognition in Australian history. Local businesswoman Jody Deemer said the most significant takeaway from Reid’s information session was the clarity he brought to the referendum debate. “Dr Reid was clear that the constitutional change proposed in the referendum is a vote for a body of principles as outlined in the constitution,” she said. “He clearly explained the procedural functions and legal responsibilities of the government after any constitutional change.” David Abrahams
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid addresses locals at a Voice to Parliament gathering in Hardys Bay
An open letter to David Mehan MP, David Harris MP, Liesl Tesch MP and Yasmin Catley MP Congratulations on being elected! Now you must try to fix the mess from the previous mob. Good luck! Reinstating a school for the Coast’s school refusers may not be high on your agenda, but you might like to know that five qualified teachers worked hard over five months on an application to do just that. Put back the school for the Coast’s most vulnerable teenagers. With Council support we found a great spot for the new school near The Entrance. PCYC were thrilled at the prospect of helping these kids. So what happened? The NSW Education and Standards Authority, NESA, found too many problems with the application, so we withdrew our application. So no school. Nothing for our school refusers.
Here’s why: 1. NESA wants school refusers to do the same curriculum as everyone else, even though many kids struggle with reading/writing. Our modified curriculum concentrated on improving the basics – reading and writing. NESA rejected this. 2. Helpful Council staff found great premises very likely to receive Council approval. NESA rejected them, saying others disapproved. 3. If we had pressed ahead ,NESA warned our application was likely to fail and falilng meant being banned for applying for five years. Banned for five years just for trying to help struggling teenagers on the Coast! So we
withdrew our application. 4. It costs thousands to apply, covering insurance etc to put together these applications. The teachers stumped up the money. But we all have had enough. Time to throw in the towel. 5. While ever the NSW Education and Standards Authority continues to dominate curriculum and what suits school refusers, Central Coast kids will never receive the help they truly need.
Gab McIntosh (retired Principal) Education Spokesperson For the five experienced teachers who tried to help
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