The Coast has just suffered its fourth flood disaster in three years as East Coast Lows drenched the region, causing major flooding around Tuggerah Lakes.
Mr Harris introduced a Motion into State Parliament tagged ‘3812-Lake Side Flooding’. He said Council and the State Govt. should investigate mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of flooding.
“These measures could include funding for property raising, investigation of levies, improved maintaining of drainage channels and a public, transparent channel opening strategy.”
“In the Valleys we need solutions to power distribution and communications.
“It is not good enough to say people should be resilient. Yes flooding will still occur but we can address impacts with actions,” he said.
Long suffering Budgewoi resident Jay Cawley supported Mr Harris’s inquiry on social media.
“I’m not resilient anymore,” Jay said. “So many rain and flood events. I shovel muck, chuck stuff out, I am sleeping on the floor and fighting mould. My house frame is wet, the roof’s cactus and I have no stove or fridge. Carpets, lounges, clothes, linen all gone.
“It would be great if anyone could mitigate anything, but I haven’t got it in me to go again.”
Jay’s story could be echoed thousands of times around the Lakes and Valleys.
