Residents have welcomed moves to help flood-proof Wandobah Road under a new $3.2 million Gunnedah Shire Council (GSC) project.
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The project will aim to protect Wandobah Road from future flooding by creating channel banks, deepening, widening and realigning 1.9 kilometres of Blackjack Creek, between McCalls Road and Oxley Highway, to increase capacity.
Works to protect the Wandobah Road area from future flood events is set to commence during the week beginning November 13.
Wandobah Road resident Dianne van Os, who’s lived in the area since 2012, gave the project a resounding thumbs up.
“It sounds like a good idea,” Mrs van Os said.
“We have pretty good run off into our dams but it will be nice to know this is in place if it floods.”
Fellow Wandobah Road resident Kim Duver said the project would have greater benefit to residents living at the Gunnedah end of Wandobah Road.
“I suppose people living close to the creek will benefit most,” Ms Duver said.
“I’m already on a decent slope at my place so it won’t mean much to me, but for people living near town it will probably make a big difference.
“I know when it rains that creek gets a hell of a lot of water in it.”
Gunnedah Shire Council’s planning and development manager Carolyn Hunt said the project aims to reduce the impact of flooding from Blackjack Creek to properties and residences in the Wandobah Road area.
“The $3.2 million project is a recommendation of the Blackjack Creek floodplain risk management study and plan 2010, to ensure one-in-100-year flood events are contained and surrounding properties are protected,” Ms Hunt said.
The project will also include the installation of storm water pipes under Wandobah Road, and associated road works, as well as the removal and replanting of trees in the area.
“Revegetation works in Wandobah Reserve and along Wandobah Road will be staged throughout the Project, with approximately 500 trees to be planted in the area, creating a potential koala corridor,” Ms Hunt said.
GSC resolved to accept a tender from Daracon Group Gunnedah to undertake works on the Blackjack Creek Flood Mitigation Project.
Representatives from both GSC and Daracon Group will officially kick off the project with a public sod turning ceremony at Blackjack Creek near the Lions Club rest area on Mullaley Road on Friday, November 7 from 11am.