by Gabriella Vukman
A new ‘StormWater Management Plan’ is in the works for the Yarra Ranges Shire, and residents are waiting to discover whether this plan will be the solution to their flash-flooding problems.
Announced March 12 during Council minutes, the Yarra Ranges Council are working on a new ‘StormWater Management Plan’ that has the aim of addressing the flooding that occurs throughout the shire. The Council has confirmed that they will be seeking community feedback later this year but residents and flood victims fear that they are not being heard and that this may be too late.
Kallista resident and advocate for the ‘Kallista Flood Watch Group’ Karen Kestigian said, “We have been fighting flash floods in Kallista for over a decade.”
“The volumes of water are huge and even though the flash flooding may only last twenty minutes, there is so much water that our homes get flooded and it is devastating.”
“I would like to know what the criteria and parameters are around the new ‘Stormwater Management Plan’ and if Kallista, not being a known flood-plain, is included,” Ms Kestigian said.
Ms Kestigian has been rallying for the maintenance of several roads in her area in order to prevent water damage and in 2022, ‘The ‘Roads for Recovery Funding strategy’ promised 300M to seal roads across Victoria, however in 2023, this funding was withdrawn.
“We don’t feel heard. The Council isn’t listening to us,” Ms Kestigian said.
The state government has acknowledged the need for water management on Monbulk road in Kallista and has committed to sealing parts of the road. Kallista residents fear that these works on Monbulk road will be to no avail so long as roads up and downstream remain as they are.
Ms Kestigian said, “We are advocating to the Yarra Ranges Council to get Gleghorn road, Emberson road and Rivington avenue sealed and drained as part of their Stormwater Management Plan because the outcome on Monbulk road will be terrible because it will still be taking on volumes of water.”
“So far, the Yarra Ranges Council have told us that we are under consideration, but this is not something that can be glossed over. This needs to be included in the new plan,” Ms Kestigian said.
Federal Member for Casey, Aaron Violi said, “Unsealed roads and inadequate drainage infrastructure are causing devastating flooding in Kallista.
“The Albanese Labor Government’s decision to rip over $100 million from road sealing projects in the Yarra Ranges is absolutely devastating, especially for the Kallista township where residents are experiencing unnecessary damage to homes and businesses due to unsealed roads and inadequate drainage,” he said.
“Gleghorn Road, Emberson Road and Rivington Avenue are just three of 22 unsealed roads in Kallista that would have been sealed under the Roads for Communities program, funded by the former Liberal government,” he said.
Labour was contacted but provided no comment.
Other residents of the Yarra Ranges Shire are also concerned about whether their flooding issues will be addressed.
Michelle from Lilydale Flood Watch group said, “We want to know if the Council’s new StormWater Management Plan deals with the effects of their recent housing plan proposal for Lilydale.”
“There have been massive issues with the drainage and flooding management of the current infrastructure in Lilydale but the Council has proposed 7,500 new homes before releasing a management plan.”
“There are five people on my street who are in wheelchairs and they cannot exit their home when it floods. The flood damage is devastating now but it will be worse with thousands of new homes. People have been trying for twenty plus years to get the Council to do something and they haven’t,” Michelle said.
The Yarra Ranges Council were contacted regarding the content and parameters of their new plan and were asked whether their housing proposal for Lilydale as well as flooding in areas that are not flood plains such as Kallista are included in the plan.
The Council issued the following statement and did not provide further comment.
“We are currently working on our Draft Stormwater Management Plan, which considers how stormwater impacts the different areas of Yarra Ranges, including the Dandenong Ranges, known floodplains and areas inundated by stormwater in recent years. The document will outline how Council will manage Stormwater and identify priority Actions for Council along with advocacy priorities for the State Government.”
