Flood fears: Croydon resident Lian Spafford is glad the council has allocated funds for flood mitigation works in the Croydon civic precinct. Picture: Sam Stiglec
Inset: The Croydon civic precinct flooded in 2011.
FLOOD-affected property owners in Croydon can breathe a sigh of relief with Maroondah Council vowing to spend big on drainage improvements in its draft budget.
The proposed 2012-13 budget includes $2.27million for stormwater infrastructure renewal including flood mitigation works in the Croydon civic precinct and Scenic Avenue.
The budget allows for a total of $6.3million in drainage works across Maroondah over the next three years.
Lusher Road resident Lian Spafford said it was "about time" the council did something to improve drainage in the area.
She said her house and surrounding properties had been flooded four times in the past two years and some of her neighbours could no longer get insurance for their properties because of the frequent flooding. Others had resorted to having their houses raised.
"Water comes gushing out of the drains and ends up in people's houses," she said.
"There is nothing you can do except unplug your electrical appliances and pick things up off the ground. We are all just sick of it."
Ms Spafford and her neighbours all know they will not have the work done before the winter and spring rains - which fills them with trepidation.
"Let's get on with it."
About $1million has been allocated to complete Croydon civic precinct flood mitigation works, now in the design stage.
Works could include modifications to infrastructure in the area to improve overland flowpaths and better distribute stormwater during major rainfalls.
A further $1million is provided to Scenic Avenue works, including a major upgrade to the council's stormwater drainage infrastructure and an upgrade to the retarding basin in AFB Long Reserve.Works proposed for Parrs Road involve a $750,000 major drainage upgrade due to begin in the 2013-14.
The council's director of operations and infrastructure Trevor Welsh said a priority list of stormwater improvements had been established, with works to be conducted on an ongoing basis as part of the council's annual capital works stormwater renewal budget.
"The council will also be undertaking flood modelling and mapping of the entire municipality in 2012-13, to facilitate the development of proactive flood mitigation strategies for Maroondah," he said.