Photos taken by Noble Park residents Bernie and Angela Howard in order to build a case proving the town’s sewerage and waterways are under stress from recent residential developments. The photos of (left) Leman Crescent and (below) Blaby Street were both taken on 21 January after about half an hour’s rainfall.By Shaun Inguanzo
A NOBLE Park couple has resorted to photographing what it says are examples of excessive loads on Noble Park’s water drainage system.
Bernie and Angela Howard of Diggins Court appeared in Star on 12 January after withdrawing a submission to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) objecting to a nearby development.
The Howards said last month they felt the higherdensity development in Diggins Court would place strain on sewerage and water networks installed for fewer residents in the 1960s. But finding information to present to VCAT was almost impossible, the Howards said, and consequently they were forced to cancel the lateJanuary hearing.
“In this whole process, (bureaucrats) are passing the buck to one another,” Mr Howard said.
The couple met with South East Water representatives late in January following the article, but say they have been left waiting for more information, in particular a sidebyside comparison of Noble Park’s sewerage and drinking water system and the load on its capacity in both the 1960s and current day.
To push for the information, the Howards revealed photos of Noble Park residential streets they had taken after half an hour of rain on Saturday, 21 January.
The pictures show pools of water in Leman Crescent and Blaby Street, Noble Park.
“If we ever get back to heavier rainfall, only God knows what is going to happen,” Mrs Howard said.
She maintained there was still stress on sewerage and drinking water systems in Noble Park because the area was being rapidly developed.
“As far as we are concerned, there is overdevelopment in Noble Park with very little consideration given to the people who live here,” Mrs Howard said.
South East Water refused to comment on the pictures, and said the stormwater drainage came under Melbourne Water’s jurisdiction.
However, a South East Water spokesperson said comprehensive information regarding Noble Park’s sewerage and drinking water network would be presented to the couple by “no later” than the end of next week.
