Mr Mehan said that the sand build-up in The Entrance Channel and Karagi Point Berm is at least as great as that which existed before the 2020 flood.
Mr Mehan noted that whilst Council now has an emergency opening procedure in place for the Channel, more can be done to make this more effective, including:
Regular earthworks to maintain the berm height in a more flood ready condition; and, Regular emergency opening drills to ensure that when we need to act, the opening procedure has been practiced and can be enacted as quickly as possible.
Mr Mehan noted he had written to Council about his concerns on 22 November last year.
Council has declined to do any work on the Channel and Berm despite holding $163,000 in state grant funds for channel work which remain unspent.
David Mehan MP said: “Flood conditions can develop quickly and when they do we need to act quickly. The only way for flood waters to drain away is through The Entrance Channel. Having the channel berm in a flood ready condition and crews in pace to open the Channel will ensure that when floods occur, we reduce flood impact as much as possible.”
