Better late than never
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Better late than never

Owners of flood prone land adjacent to the Paynesville Road will be relieved to learn that the road safety works already started in that vicinity will now be subject to a flood impact study.
 
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, late last year questioned the Minister for Roads and Road Safety the Hon Luke Donnellan in Parliament why Vic Roads had not completed a flood impact study on Paynesville Road, prior to commencing road safety improvements that increased the height of the road surface.
 
“I received reports from property owners along Paynesville Road that the wire rope barrier installation works had resulted in the road surface being raised above its existing level and as everyone familiar with this area knows, it is prone to serious flooding,” Mr Bull said.
 
“These works were commenced without consultation with the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and without a technical assessment of their impact on future flood events on the floodplain south of Bairnsdale.
 
“The Minister has now advised me that when Vic Roads found that the road would need to be raised by 100mm to ensure the pavement was built to the right standard, a flood impact study was commissioned.
 
“I have received an assurance from the Minister that Vic Roads will now work with the East Gippsland Shire Council and the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to identify and assess any potential flood impacts to private property associated with the works.
 
“While doing the study after the work has started is putting the cart before the horse, it is a relief for affected landholders that the impact of these works on future flood events on the floodplain south of Bairnsdale will now be properly studied, so it’s a case of better late than never and I thank local residents for their vigilance.
 
“Sadly, this project is another example of the haphazard nature of the road safety improvement projects currently being implemented by the Andrews government without proper planning and consultation,” Mr Bull said.
 
Friday, January 12, 2018