Northern Rivers Local News
Bypass and insurance still concerns for Woodburn flood survivors
Bypass and insurance still concerns for Woodburn flood survivors
By Samantha Elley
Jason and Meredyth Regan own the Melaluca Stock Horse Stud on Langs Way, heading to Broadwater from Woodburn and at 2am on March 1, they were risking their lives to save their beautiful animals, worth between $40,000-50,000, from the rising floodwaters.
“We nearly died trying to swim 23 horses out,” said Meredyth.
“The last four were the hardest to get out as it was dark, palettes were floating about and we had to keep closing the gate each time we got a horse out, as they wanted to go back with the others, as they are a herd animal.”
They also had four buffalo, used to help train the horses. Named Bill, Ben, Bruce and Bob, the buffalo all managed to make their way out of the property and on to the road at around 3am that same morning.
“They grazed by the side of the road,” said Jason.
“I tried to keep them in an area, but they managed to break out and wandered up the road to Broadwater, having a fine time and would come back and check on us.”
The Regans were at the most recent Flood Recovery meeting held in Woodburn to present a letter to Federal member for Page, Kevin Hogan over what they see as design faults with the M1 freeway.
“Some of these issues (as well as others) were bought (sic) to the attention of Pacific Complete During construction and subsequently ignored.” The letter stated.
“Prior to the road being constructed there were concerns…that there was a need for more peering and better engineering. These original concerns were never addressed and ignored by RMS.”
Mr Regan voiced his anger at the meeting when questions were invited.
“I want (RMS) to be kicked up the arse now,” he said.
“If we have a 1954 flood now, my horses will drown, and I will lose my business again.”
Mr Hogan was guest speaker at the meeting and recommended people provide input into the study to be run by the CSIRO which will support the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative.
“They will use LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mapping and come back with flood mitigation options,” he said.
The $11.2 million study will identify and prioritise options for mitigating flood risks in the Northern Rivers region.
Mr Hogan urged residents to register for the community and stakeholder engagement sessions and be part of the study.
Mr Regan said he will register for the session to be held in Woodburn on October 24.
Residents can register for sessions relevant to their area at https://www.csiro.au/en/research/natural-disasters/floods/northern-nsw-resilience-initiative
Another concerning theme at the meeting was the treatment of residents by insurance companies.
“In November my insurance company pulled my flood insurance,” said one concerned resident.
“In December the bypass opens and now we are a flood plain.”
The resident continued saying he had water in the house long before the river broke its banks, but many insurance companies still weren’t paying out.
There was also the suggestion that insurance companies stop being profit-based and run by the government, or a levy be charged for natural disasters.
Mr Hogan offered to bring an insurance representative to a future meeting to provide assistance and answer many of the related questions.
City landmark falls to start $29.5 mil project
By Tim Howard
A Grafton landmark has disappeared in the past week, but it’s proof that a much awaited facility is on target for a December 2024 opening.
The Grafton Memorial Pool waterslide which dominated the landscaping of the pool grounds for decades has come down and heavy machinery has begun tearing up the pool structures and surrounding ground to begin stage one of the $29.5 million project
The head contractor, Bathurst firm Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, has promised Clarence Valley Council it will complete stage 1 of the project, known as the Regional Aquatic Centre, by December 2024.
The first stage will include the indoor facility, which includes two 25 metre pools.
The 50m outdoor pool will be part of Stage 2 of the project
The start of construction will rule out any use of the Grafton Pool site over the summer.
Heavy machiney at work beginning to demolish the pools as part of stage 1 of the Regional Aquatic Project.
In 2022-23, despite the closure of the pool, the water slide was opened at selected times.
The pool has a close connection to the Grafton community
It’s origins go back to December 11, 1943, when 13 Cub Scouts drowned in the Clarence River returning from a picnic on Susan Island.
Findings from the tragedy revealed most of the boys had not learned to swim and the community resolved to raise funds to build a pool so children could learn to swim at an early age.
The name Grafton Memorial Pool was a reference to the boys that died on that day almost 80 years ago.
After fundraising, construction of the pool began in 1954 and it opened in 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics.
In the pool’s first year of operation it was visited by a touring squad of Olympic swimmers which included Sport Australia Hall of Famer, Jon Henricks.
During the visit Henricks competed in the 50m freestyle at a club event which he won in 25.60 seconds before going on to Melbourne to become Australia’s first ever Olympic 100m freestyle champion and set a new world record.
Bathurst builder Hines Constructions won the contract for the $29.5 million build of the Regional Aquatic Facility.
Henricks’ record, which stood for 60 years as the fastest 50m in the Grafton Olympic Pool, was beaten in 2016 by local swimmer Charlie Steele in a time of 25.11 seconds.
Over the years the addition of the waterslide and diving pool turned the facility into a regional attraction which brought visitors to the city.
But the past decade revealed issues at the pool, which included a massive water leak.
It is believed the water escaping from the pool into the ground around it has created a sinkhole responsible for the structural instability which forced the council to close the pool ahead of the 2022-23 swimming season.
The council had developed a shovel-ready plan for the Regional Aquatic Centre, which has been used for the current project.
Future stages will include the 50m outdoor pool and two waterslide.
For more local Grafton news, click here.
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