The enormous task of clean up and recovery has begun in and around Corowa, following the latest flood event which saw the Murray River peak locally at 8.10 metres on November 15.
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Following weeks of inundation, particularly around Ball Park, Rowers Park and south Corowa, floodwaters began to slowly recede early last week, allowing sporting clubs and council staff to inspect the impact.
Corowa Rowing Club, Wahgunyah Rowing Club and Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club (CRFNC) all held clean up days last week, with an army of volunteers assisting with removing debris and hosing down infrastructure.
While the immediate cost of repairs is still being counted, the CRFNC clubrooms were affected with wet plaster and carpet needing to be removed after floodwater reached almost 50cm high within the building.
Roos secretary Rowena Black said the working bee last Saturday focussed on emptying sandbags, hosing down the netball courts, removing debris from the fence line and cleaning up different areas of the building.
“We are really grateful for the support we’ve received with the clean-up, especially from other clubs and community groups,” she said.
“We hope to have the courts and oval ready for preseason before Christmas. The rest of the building probably wont be ready for quite some time. There’s a lot of work to do.
“We want to thank everyone who has pitched in to help. Our AGM on Wednesday (November 30) has also been moved to the RSL Club, as the clubrooms are not up to scratch.”
Corowa Rowing Club were fortunate to have moved equipment off the premises making the clean up a lot easier.
In River Street, homeowners have breathed a sigh of relief as floodwaters receded from properties. Stagnant water, mosquitoes and badly damaged gardens remain the greatest concern for residents.
River Street resident Marilyn Morley Kirsop’s front lawn and garden remains under water, causing her great distress over the last week, and hoping volunteers will reach out to assist her.
“During the latest floods I watched my beautiful garden that I have nurtured for over 20 years only to see it being engulfed by water,” Ms Morley said.
“The water has started to recede leaving behind leaf swollen rubbish and all increasing muddy smelly water infested with mosquitoes.
“I have started to clean up but need assistance. I need assistance directly on my property but also the drain culvert in front needs cleaning out plus a trench dug leading to the Common. This would assist in drainage of the land opposite which will help to lessen the risk of trees falling which occurred last week taking out Corowa South's electricity.”
Meanwhile, Federation Council has been managing the significant flooding impacts across the Local Government area, under the Local Emergency Management framework.
Federation Council General Manager Adrian Butler provided a flood update for the monthly meeting of council on Tuesday noting that ongoing and significant wet weather through winter and spring as well as continuing riverine flooding had a major impact on council infrastructure.
“The main early impacts were on council’s roads and bridges, and this has now been exacerbated by the recent high river levels in the Murray at Corowa, resulting in flooding across the Ball Park Oval/Bangerang Park, Bridge Road, John Foord Oval areas especially, and many low-lying areas including River Street Corowa,” he said.
“Council staff have performed to an exceptionally high level, both indoor and outdoor, and are a credit to the council and community.
“Council has also enjoyed strong engagement from the local SES and RFS volunteers across Corowa, Urana, Rand and Morundah as well as other areas as needed, as well as the VRA in Corowa.
“Council has also worked closely with Essential Energy especially in regard to power dis-connections and recommendations in the Corowa foreshore areas around Ball Park Caravan Park, the Civic Centre, and the Ball Park and John Foord ovals.
“The Federation Council area has been disaster declared and whilst still in some emergency response phases, are also moving into the recovery phase, and this includes damage assessments of roads and related infrastructure, the Ball Park Caravan Park re-instatement, assisting community groups where possible in damaged community facilities, and managing the very real and ongoing risk/cases of trees falling.
“Four significant river red gums have fallen in Corowa across the last two weeks, and public and staff/contractor safety remains an extremely high priority. Councils’ services, especially those delivered from the Corowa Civic Centre, have been severely impacted, with the building being inaccessible since November 14.
“The Ball Park Caravan Park is currently also being drained, and assessment and cleaning up is occurring. The largest task is reinstalling the 20 cabins that were either moved out or raised.”
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke thanked council staff and emergency service workers for their efforts over the last few weeks.
“Council is so proud of our community’s first responders and council staff for the way they have responded the latest flooding event,” Mayor Bourke said.
“I know we have a long way to go, but the resilience and camaraderie shown by the community with the clean-up efforts is to be commended. Once again, the Federation Council community has demonstrated great community spirit and attitude.”
Mayor Bourke also passed on his sincere gratitude to Member for Albury Justin Clancy after Federation Council was announced as one of five local councils in the Albury Electorate to receive a share of the NSW Government’s $50 million Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.
Under the fund, council is set to receive $791,613.91 for urgent pothole repairs.
Member for Albury, Justin Clancy said he was pleased to see funding going straight into the bank accounts of councils to help them cover the extra costs and workload pressures following this year’s unprecedented rain and storms.
“These grants are a rapid injection of cash to help councils get on with the job of repairing potholes to get us through the wet summer ahead,” Mr Clancy said.
“We understand that this is really a start, with much work to follow in repairing our road network through these unprecedented conditions.”
Mayor Bourke thanked the NSW State Government for their ongoing support.
“Council appreciates the funding that has been offered to assist us in our flood recovery efforts,” Mayor Bourke said.
“We need to start somewhere, and this fund will enable us to do that. We still have a long way to go, with the damage bill within our LGA expected to be in the millions. Throughout my time in Local Government, I have never seen our roads in such a state following widespread flooding and years of consistent wet weather conditions.
“We will continue to inspect road damage and advocate to our state and federal members for more funding opportunities for our regions.”