Members of AIDA and the Surf Coast Shire met in August 2024 to discuss, amongst other matters, the Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven drainage study. At that meeting AIDA requested confirmation that the technical brief to the consultants included the Aireys Inlet to Eastern View Structure Plan, in particular Objective 22 as it relates to our local informal infrastructure. We also requested that the technical brief include all Painkalac Creek catchment areas and that consideration be given to counter increased flow impacts of stormwater into the Painkalac Creek. We further pointed out the need for community involvement and for any stormwater improvement proposals to ensure that they focused on Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles.
The Surf Coast Draft Urban Futures Strategy June 2024 notes the following under the heading Protecting Surf Coast’s unique and valued national environment landscapes and built heritage: ‘Intrinsic to this will be ensuring that urban development (including stormwater run-off ) does not negatively impact on waterways and other receiving waters.’ Our submission to the shire concerning this draft states that there is much remedial work to be carried out by relevant authorities to achieve that goal. The Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven drainage study should embrace that strategy and adopt that goal.
AIDA is very concerned that the final version of the drainage study focusing on mitigation options for key identified sites will not conform with the Aireys Inlet to Eastern View Structure Plan 2025, nor with Surf Coast Shire climate and environmental objectives. We note that the six project objectives for the Aireys Inlet Top Shops improvements includes a requirement under the heading Water-sensitive Urban Design to ‘implement sustainable design practices to manage water use and enhance environmental sustainability’. We see no reason why this approach should not be extended to mitigation measures for those key identified sites. Releasing a draft of the drainage study for consideration to the local community may help to resolve some of these concerns.
For those members wishing to take their own action on this issue, the federal government has produced a guide for homeowners to reduce stormwater run-off on their properties: https://www.yourhome.gov.au/water/stormwater
Ian Laging