Response to questions raised by Janis Haynes on behalf of the Middleton Community

1. Who is collating the data/damage & when did the Alexandrina Council begin documenting the breadth of the damage caused to residents personally, and of property both private, commercial [and Council owned assets] due to the Middleton flood event that caused major damage from the Middleton Creek area and from the current Middleton Station area, on November 12, 2022?

Council have undertaken an audit of Community infrastructure and assets that were damaged as a result of the Middleton storm event. Council do not undertake an audit of damage that occurred on private land.

4. Will Council be appointing a dedicated climate officer tasked with coordinating the different departments and activities?

Yes, the Climate Emergency Action Plan, in consultation with other departments and State agencies, will inform the activities of the Climate Change Officer.

5. Did the ‘Plan’ that considered the effects of sea level rises along our immediate coastline consider the effects of rain events and their impact on our many rivers? What did it specifically say about the Middleton Creek and the water run off near the current Middleton Station?

The Council has endorsed a Coastal Adaptation Plan that considers the effect of sea level rise on our coastal environments. While there are references to the impacts of sea level rise being exacerbated by storm events, it does not provide any specific data or flood mapping for storm events within creeks or rivers.

6. Will Council commit to reporting back to this community on the results of investigations into this event and regarding further questions from the floor?

Yes, Council will report on the outcomes of the Community meeting, including the written responses to these questions. Council will also commit to providing a written response to any subsequent written questions that may arise. Council will also report the results of any further investigations conducted.

8. What learnings came out of the SES internal review?

9. Is it part of the training of the SES to expect its volunteers to do a thorough door-to-door check of all flood victims? This did not happen.

10. What were the police able to do on November 12 & 13? Did the officer who visited some but not all the flood victims on the 13^th realise the actual numbers of homes that were affected? Residents on Padman Crescent were not visited by SES or the Police.

SAPOL will need to response to this question.

11. What was Council able to do on Saturday 12 November? In retrospect, could Council have done more or done things differently to assist those affected in the community? What worked well, what didn’t?

Council’s Field Services Team and CWMS Team were actively engaged and participated in the Storm Event Response on 12/11/2022.

From approximately mid-afternoon to 12 midnight on 12/11/2022, Council’s Field Staff attended call outs for flood response, fallen trees, road closure requests and debris on road clean up.

Priority was given to support First Respondent Agencies, namely SES, SA Police and CFS. It should be noted that under the Emergency Response Framework, SES is the lead Agency for Flood Response and SA Police is the lead agency to assist SES Flood Response.

As Council operates under the LGA i-Responda Framework, Council staff attendance to flood emergency is an entirely voluntary response and personal safety shall always be maintained. Given most of the staff that attended this storm event were also impacted and affected by fallen trees, loss of power and minor flooding, attendance by field staff was considered exceptionally high under the circumstances.

The Chief Executive Officer (located at Middleton), General Manager Infrastructure and Mayor were in constant communication with team members, Council Members, community members and local State Member, David Basham assisting with flooding issues. All issues raised were triaged in priority order.

On reflection and staff briefings following the storm event, there are little improvements identified to our processes for future responses.

12. What was Council able to do on Sunday 13 November? In retrospect, could Council have done more or done things differently to assist those affected in the community? What worked well, what didn’t?

As at 6:30am on 13/11/2022, Asset damage inspections recommenced throughout our Council region, aimed to understand the extent of infrastructure damage, and prioritise immediate, and longer-term repairs required.

By 8am on 13/11/2022, a full recovery/response team of Council’s Field Services Team was onsite undertaking the following:

13. What has been Council’s action plan over the past two years to manage the flow in Middleton Creek regarding debris accumulation and blocked drainage.

Councils only maintain creeks that are located within Council land (generally reserves). Within private land, the maintenance of creeks is the responsibility of the relevant landowner. Oversight of creeks and other waterways rests with Landscape SA (the former Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board), however their input is limited to water quality matters and any proposed physical changes to water courses.

15. How and when will Council review the stormwater drainage systems in Mill Terrace, William St, Padman Crescent, Haynes Rd, Breaker Court and the Main Road?

At this stage, Council has completed a high-level desktop review of the stormwater drainage system within affected parts of Middleton. A hydrological study would require additional budget and should be considered as a stand-alone project, if identified as a priority of the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

16. Many of the residents cannot live in their homes for some time; will Council consider giving them a rates rebate?

This is a decision for the Elected Members of Council as part of their budget deliberations for 2023/24. Further consideration would need to be given to those properties that would qualify and what the relevant criteria should be. The Valuer General sets valuations on properties that are used to calculate Council rates, applications to the Valuer General for a review of valuations can also be performed to reduce rates.

17. How did Council let the flooded community know that there was free dumping for flood victims? Ratepayers on Padman Cres, Haynes St & Breaker Court did not know.

On the 13^th November 2022, the CEO made the decision to allow free dumping of flood material following a discussion with the Mayor and State MP, David Basham. This decision was communicated the all Council Members, representatives from the SES, staff and representatives of the Middleton Town and Foreshore Committee that were on the ground assisting with the clean-up. Additional requests that came to Council over the next couple of weeks were also granted. Council contributed over $12,000 to allow the free dumping to occur.

18. When will work commence on making safe the well-used walkway bridge on Mill Terrace?

Council has undertaken an inspection of four (4) damaged footbridges across the district, including the one (1) on Mill Terrace. Engineers have also undertaken inspections and provided detailed reports as part of the insurance claim process, which is still pending.

Reconstruction of the bridge can commence after the following:

19. Ratepayers on Mill Terrace adjacent to the creek have their land undermined and retaining walls have been swept away leaving a safety issue and trees in danger of falling. What suggestions can you make?

Council has undertaken a safety review of its own assets and infrastructure and will address issues as per that review. Retaining walls on private land are the responsibility of the relevant landowners.