ABOVE: The levee at Bungawalbin. Each side is lined with rocks at this part of the levee. Photo: Contributed
Susanna Freymark
The levee at Bungawalbin is broken.
Its present condition impacts not only Bungawalbin residents but properties and farming land all the way to Swan Bay and the south side of Woodburn.
The levee runs across Deborah Johnston’s property.
It was built in 1945. It broke in the 2017 flood, then again in the same spot in 2021 flood.
Last year’s floods caused serious damage to the levee.
Ms Johnston is calling for people to gather at the site called The Rocks at 700 Bungawalbin-Whiporie Rd on Thursday, March 2 at 10am.
She wants people to see the levee damage up close because you can’t see the extent of the damage from the road.
We need support to lobby the politicians to get the levee fixed, Ms Johnston said.
Rous County Council is responsible for the repair of the levee.
Ms Johnston said the emergency funding Rous applied for had a time limit.
After the floods Rous was unable to access the levee site for a while and didn’t have machinery available. Rous missed out on a grant to repair the levee.
Woodburn SES and members of the Canegrowers Association will be at the levee on Thursday. The manager of the new Swan Bay Fields Estate will be there too.
Ms Johnston is hoping they can make a difference and highlight the urgent need to fix the levee.
“I’m doing this on behalf of the people of Bungawalbin,” Ms Johnston said.
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