Cooloola Cove, Should Not Be Ignored.

On reading the minutes of the Gympie Council’s Works and Services Meeting, 1st March 2011, I noticed a group of drainage problems, at Cooloola Cove. Having done quite a lot of paddling, inspecting drains at Cooloola Cove, knowing that half a metre of rain has fallen there in a 24 hour period, and that many of the residents have spent years trying to get Council to do its duty. I was ashamed for my region and disappointed at the response that was offered to the residents by the Councillors. The Councillors in their resolutions said, “Due to the flat nature of their land any run off will always result from adjoining lots directly on to their land is their responsibility”, “any scouring at the outlet to the pipe under the driveway is their responsibility to repair.”

Cooloola cove Road meets Gardens, this is how the council leaves their drain work

Most of the other comments, which were broadly reported in the Gympie Times, 11th March ‘Residents say “don’t ignore us”‘, sound like the bad old days of the last term of Council when Mayor Mick and Cr Larry Friske, always offered the scenario that, “people bought cheap blocks of land and wanted the Council to improve the value for them”.
In one reported instance, Council workers came along and took away the open concrete spoon drain and left an open trench in its place. Most residents, after watching the council leave the open drain would have the temerity to think that, “at last the Council is going to come good and provide the promised kerb and channelling.” But no, they leave it the way it’s been for thirty five years, a medieval swamp.
Council planned Cooloola Cove from its inception, was the responsible body, gave all the approvals. The Council was the initiator of this development, as a Councillor and the Shire Engineer were share holders in the original company. The Council was the assessment manager for the development. The Council was the major contractor who carried out the shoddy, ill designed work. The Council was and is the beneficiary of the subdivision because it collects the ever increasing rates.
Marcus Tullius Cicero said “Cui bono ” which means “To whose benefit?”, a Latin proverb, indicating that the party responsible for something may be those who have something to gain.
Many people, these days may be interested in Cooloola Cove history, and could ask current Councillors who benefited in the early days of the development. Ask Cr Neilson how the solicitors for the project gained from this development? Ask Cr Petersen how a Cattle Company and Elders real estate agents could benefit from this development and ask Cr Friske how earth moving contractors could benefit from this development. I’ll bet they all could give good experienced advice as to who benefited from the Cooloola Cove project.
Before 1981, Council was contracted by the developer, to develop Stage 1, the initial thirteen sections on the most elevated land. In this Stage the road ways, are the drains which take water to Tin Can Bay Inlet. Any half intelligent engineering staff, would recognise the drainage difficulties that were created, when each later stage, which were also under contract by Council, had no way of coping with the water from previous Stage above them. Until drainage in Stage 1 is corrected properly the lower ‘band aid’ fix ups are useless.
The Cooloola Cove water mess rewarded Council with large developer contributions, thousands of licence fees, revenue from contracted works (water, sewerage, roadworks and drainage) provided by council for the developer, as well as an ever increasing rating base, all for negligible expenditure. Council is responsible for this wet debacle, but it is reprehensible that they try to shift the blame and rub the people’s noses in it, for having the audacity to justifiably complain.
Ron Owen , 24 Mc Mahon Rd Gympie 4570