mmg.com.au

An Orrvale resident says authorities need to be held accountable for the effects of flash flooding in Shepparton last week.

Gary Crosbie expects his Doyles Rd home will be a ‘‘write-off’’ after 150mm of rain fell in the area on Wednesday.

When The News visited yesterday, his house was still surrounded by stagnant water.

Mr Crosbie said during the past few days the 10cm of water, which had inundated the house, had subsided, but the damage could have been prevented.

‘‘This floodwater demonstrates the inadequate drainage system that was developed in 2002-03,’’ Mr Crobsie said.

‘‘A retardation dam, which is 700m north with a capacity to hold probably thousands of litres of floodwater, is probably only a third full and that’s just from today.

‘‘This retardation dam was designed for flash floods that could be drained in there and so it gives it a chance for the existing drains to subside and they could release it at a certain time.’’

However, he said the basin was not used and floodwater remained on people’s properties more than a week after the rain.

Mr Crosbie had been in contact with Goulburn-Murray Water about the issue.

‘‘We rely on (them) to have knowledge, judgment, skills and expertise in drainage water management,’’ he said.

‘‘Goulburn-Murray Water stated to me the drainage channels were designed to cope with 75mm of rain. We had 150mm, but what happened was that channel out there was three-quarters full before it rained so it only needed another 25mm and it was overflowing. I feel G-MW is not acting in the landowners’ best interest.’’

He said if the water authority wanted to help, it could conduct a more thorough investigation.

‘‘Because of G-MW’s decisions there have been adverse effects on the the community, devaluing properties and increasing insurance policy premiums up to 200 per cent,’’ Mr Crosbie said.

G-MW retail and operations head of customer support Phil Hoare said the drainage system was not designed to cope with the amount of rain that fell last Wednesday.

‘‘The rainfall event ... was far in excess of the design capacity of the G-MW rural drainage network and the rural drains are currently operating as designed,’’ Mr Hoare said.

‘‘G-MW understands the impacts to irrigators and residents and is working with landowners and City of Greater Shepparton to relieve flooding where possible without increasing the flood impact or creating a flood impact for downstream landowners.

‘‘We are continually monitoring the system and addressing any localised issues identified.

‘‘G-MW fully understands the impact and stress this rainfall event has had on individuals, staff have been working with the landowner in question since last Friday to try and relieve the flood water where possible.’’

Greater Shepparton City Council infrastructure director Steve Bowmaker said the council-managed dam, or retardation basin, was part of a drainage scheme.

‘‘It was designed to be part of the proposed Shepparton East drainage scheme ... in 2010 as special ratepayer contribution scheme,’’ Mr Bowmaker said, adding beneficiaries including VicRoads, the council and landowners were asked to contribute.

‘‘Unforunately it didn’t go up, more then 50 per cent of people said they didn’t want to participate in the scheme,’’ he said.

Mr Bowmaker said the basin was ‘‘constructed in anticipation of the scheme’’ and was partially used for flood mitigation.

He said the council had allowed orchadists to pump water into it since Wednesday last week to reduce overland flooding near Poplar Ave and to make drainage more effective.

He estimated the basin was ‘‘close to four-fifths’’ full.

Water was also being drained from the Benalla and Doyles Rds intersection, Mr Bowmaker said.