Tide of anger

By Nicole Williams
ANGRY Pakenham South residents joined forces on Friday night to discuss their legal options.
They blame the flooding of their properties on the desalination works at the corner of McDonalds Drain Road and Ballarto Road.
Residents believe the removal of the flood levee on the east side of the bank last year caused unnecessary flooding.
Desalination workers unsuccessfully tried to reinstate the bank on Saturday 5 February as water was running over it, Kooweerup Flood Protection Advisory Committee member Charles Huyskens said.
“As a result the district has been unnecessarily inundated; causing landholders needless damage to homes and crops,” he said.
The west side of the bank was reinstated soon after completion of the works in August but the east side was only partially reinstated.
Spokesperson for the Pipeline Joint Venture for the Victorian Desalination Project Serena Middleton said the eastern spoil mound had not yet been fully reinstated as contractors accounted for an engineering issue with the power cable installation.
Mr Huyskens’ five-acre property is about two kilometres from the desalinisation works and was inundated although it did not enter the house.
“We were stuck,” Mr Huyskens said.
“All I could do was drive a tractor through the water.”
Adam West lives on an 18-acre property on Fechner Road, Kooweerup North.
His double storey house was inundated with water for 72 hours and he is certain his flooding was due to the removal of the levee.
“I feel it’s pretty clear,” he said.
“The action of AquaSure diverted water through our property and the other properties.”
Ms Middleton said the temporary mound was expected to contain the predicted 53mm of rain on Saturday, however much more rain fell.
“The temporary mound was breached by flood waters, which resulted in an isolated area of flooding,” Ms Middleton said.
“In response to this situation, construction equipment located in the area was utilised to undertake emergency works to mitigate the effects of the flooding.”
Mr West said the situation could have been avoided and if residents took up a class action for compensation, he would take part.
“If there is a class action, we will join,” Mr West said.
“The more people in it, the more powerful the action.”
Local MPs Greg Hunt and Ken Smith are also calling for the desalination plant builder, AquaSure to meet with affected farmers and provide compensation for building, equipment and crop damage.
Mr Huyskens met with Mayor George Blenkhorn and representatives from AquaSure on Tuesday morning to discuss possible compensation.
“They didn’t accept liability as such but will accept claims for damage,” Mr Huyskens said.
Representatives from Slater and Gordon Lawyers attended the Friday night meeting to provide advice on legal avenues and a possible class action.