Wyndham council has agreed to look into mitigating flood risk and improving community safety around Lollypop Creek.
Tabled as a notice of motion at the 25 November council meeting by Cr Maria King, the report will come back to council by 3 February and provide an analysis of the current safety issues around the waterway.
In addition to the risk assessment, council officers have been asked to explore potential fixes to the current flooding issue and implement any temporary measures they deem necessary within 14 days of the meeting.
Cr King said the issue has been something residents have been raising with her even prior to her election last October.
“The flooding along Lollypop Creek is something the community can work around – it has become a real safety issue,” Cr King said.
“Kids are playing in these areas, people are walking through the water that looks shallow but isn’t, and the depth of water can be unpredictable.”
Cr King said Olive Way Reserve in Wyndham Vale was a particularly problematic area for flooding.
“In Olive Way park in particular, this is happening next to a playground and a community oval,” she said.
“What distinguishes this location from our usual rivers and creeks around Wyndham is that it has a footpath that leads right through where the water floods over frequently.
“Creating a situation where young children unknowingly step straight into deep water simply through the unconscious act of following the path.
“I saw a young teenage person who goes to school lift their school trousers up and walk through the flood pathway.
“I just was absolutely mortified.”
Cr Preet Singh said he was happy to offer his support on the matter.
“Creeks are dangerous… our community deserves better,” Cr Singh said.
“I am not sure how we ended up in this situation where there is continuous flooding around the creek – especially on the footpath – but that’s got to be fixed.”
Cr Peter Maynard also threw his support behind the motion, mentioning the issue has been a persistent issue since at least 1982 when he moved to Black Forest Road.
The motion was passed 10 to one, with Cr Larry Zhao voting against.
