Drains under repair

MELBOURNE Water say drains in Casey will be repaired where needed after the system was blamed for the area’s severe flooding.
Casey was one of the worst affected areas during the floods on 4 February, and residents have complained the drains were not up to scratch.
Melbourne Water spokesman Nicholas McGay said drains in affected areas would be inspected and repaired if necessary.
Mr McGay said the storm was a one in 500-year event, and many rain gauges recorded more than three times average February rainfall during the one day.
Cranbourne’s Peter Kreun said he was adamant the poor conditions of the drains in Casey was the reason the area was so badly affected by the floods.
Mr Kreun said the drains were overgrown, especially in Hampton Park, and whoever was responsible for the maintenance had slacked off.
“I know it was a big downpour and that’s fair enough but if the drains worked properly it wouldn’t have been as bad as what it was.
”You can’t pick the drain from the reeds.”
Casey mayor Shar Balmes said Casey’s drainage system was made up of Melbourne Water’s pipe systems, waterways and wetlands, supported by council’s pipe drains.
“The drainage system established in Casey over the last few decades has been constructed to the one in 100-year national standard now used throughout Melbourne. However, understanding the rare and extreme nature of the recent storm flood event helps put into perspective the ability of the drainage system to cope with something well beyond its constructed capacity,” Cr Balmes said.