- Latest News
The City of Whyalla’s draft Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) has received a thumbs-up from the community after the first round of community consultation.
A total of 26 people responded to the public consultation and information sharing with 22 filling out the online survey and four submitting their responses via a hard copy.
Significantly, 85 per cent of those respondents supported the measures proposed by the draft SMP.
From the survey responses, 85 per cent of respondents identified themselves as local residents and 40 per cent have interest or experience in flooding and water conservation including stormwater harvesting and reuse.
Project Engineer Tim Bayly said comments from respondents reflected the community’s interest in reducing the township’s impact on the local environment by the capture and reuse of stormwater and catchment of waste materials prior to entering waterways. Increased protection for localised nuisance flooding caused by stormwater is also a common topic.
Mr Bayly said all the comments provided in the survey would now be taken into consideration when formalising the final SMP document.
“Although the SMP does not address all localised nuisance flooding within the city, the measures proposed by the draft SMP indirectly impact this flooding positively,” Mr Bayly said.
“These impacts are realised through larger scale capture, control and redirection of stormwater which reduces the loads experienced by the current infrastructure during storm events.
“This reduction in load will lead to less surface water and reduced drainage times.”
The SMP will now move into the planning and costing stage. There will be further updates and information sharing with the community as the project progresses.
Works carried out by Council associated with stormwater are not limited to the measures identified by the SMP with a series of projects currently underway and further projects being considered.
A SMP is a strategic planning document which aims to address existing stormwater problems within a catchment, or catchments, and identify opportunities for providing a range of benefits through a multi-objective planning process. This multi-objective planning includes consideration of flood risk, protection of water quality and opportunities for stormwater reuse.
There have been numerous occurrences of flooding within Whyalla, including those in November 2015 and September 2016. While heavy downpours have historically resulted in nuisance flooding within the city, there had been no detailed assessment of the flooding risk posed by varying rainfall events to clearly document the extent and severity of problem areas.
The SMP aims to:
* Clearly set out the objectives for managing stormwater in the city
* Identify actions (both structural and non-structural) to manage stormwater to achieve beneficial outcomes and meet the specified objectives
* Provide a justification for any proposed catchment studies, works, measures or actions
* Provide an initial estimate of capital and recurrent costs and assign priorities and timeframes to each of the actions
* Define the obligations of the relevant parties in funding, implementing and communicating the plan.
Information on the SMP and the public consultation process can found on Council’s website at http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=182&c=73742
YOUR COMMENTS REVELANT TO THE DRAFT STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
I can't see the drainage that was designed to capture the water that rushes down Cudmore TCE from Delprat and surrounding streets. A huge drain pipes were installed near playground end of Cudmore TCE with the plan for the water to flow onto Rotary Park, be filtered before going into sea by marina. Sadly the levels in the road are all ncorrect and 90% bypasses catchment drains and ends in Carpark by beach and into the sea. This water is often very dirty due to dust from steel works. The drains across road are blocked full of sand so nothing is working to prevent drainage of fifthy water into sea.
Can filters be placed in drainage pipes which enter our wetlands. So much rubbish is washed into the ponds and they need to be pristine to maintain bird life. People from across Australia came to Whyalla in January 2019 as a rare bird was living there. Only one of sightings in Australia. Bird groups come from across SA to view this Wetland
We need action. Something we haven't had since 2013...
Get it assessed by an independent storm water engineering company, to ensure we have good advice.
Is there a better way to catch the water for alternate use like the watering of local plants or gardens, watering unsealed roads etc?
Why recycled water cannot be directed to the Wetlands as it’s incredibly low at the moment and is starting to have a stench to it
The highlighted areas are the main concerns in heavy rains. Although some smaller residential streets Eg Pickhaver St , Haynes/Hanley St& Head Street areas to name a couple. These also concern the residents living In these areas as well and should be taken into consideration now or for future work?
The section at the end of Robinson street bordering development has been neglected from plan. I otherwise support all measures.
Please look further into the capture at the end of Robinson st bordering new development, housing at risk of flooding from how the stormwater is currently managed and it attracts alot of wildlife. This causes issues for people's gardens and road users.
Repair north levy and Extend
Install storm water drainage throughout Ocean Eyre
Remilton & Flavel Streets have no drainage and flood during heavy rains. Need work done here ASAP.
The risk of flooding is increasing as more build up happens in the West of the town but no increase has ever been done to the city drain which has significant siltation, weed growth and almost total lack of maintenance. More and more paved areas and housing all feeding unwanted storm water into a system not designed to cope with this flow. The large drain system should have an extension T junction at the 8 mile road junction and Following the roadway Southward to empty onto the clay pans.
How is upgrading a levee going to stop streets from flooding. The issue is in the township not on the outskirts
You need to install underground drainage. We are sick of our homes almost flooding because previous councils approved building in old flood grounds! Poor management from eras ago.
The one thing I cannot quite work out is how the samphire flats opposite the current wetlands will be impacted. These are a great carbon sink, a source of bush tucker, an unused resource and I would not like to see them destroyed.I recently spoke to visitors from WA in Whyalla who said they knew of some selling for $700 a kilo....an eco tourism resource and maybe a mico business?
It floods my house and neighbors, I live on Broadbent Tce, the water runs down Bennett St and straight into my property. The council USED to build up the island on Broadbent but haven't for years. My house is now falling on the west side, I have plenty of photo's for viewing if desired. (Of the flood lines and my house moving).
Existing assets need to be maintained at a sufficient level to keep them operable, not just building new assets. The stormwater drain at the end of Marevista Cres is rarely cleaned out and builds up with weeds, reducing water flow in high rainfall events, potentially leading to flooding danger.
Under-grounding, collection and re-use of captured water, not only to mitigate flooding, but also for the greening of Whyalla is long overdue.
Loveday Street is prone to flooding. I know. I am a resident and my property is regularly flooded along with others. Properties from the South East corner of the Netball Courts, ie from the Ryan Avenue/Loveday Street intersection on the southern side of Loveday Street are still flooded after a downpour. The water collects at the intersection, sometimes AFTER the rain has stopped falling because it comes from elsewhere, and the water has nowhere to go, despite the fact that extra drains were installed about 5 years ago. I have been complaining to council about this for 30 years! This AREA needs to be addressed!