AUTHOR of a semi-fictional novel, ‘On The Swamp’, Jim Mynard, has called for the formation of a community-based committee to study flood risks on the Kooweerup Swamp.
He said this during the book’s launch at the Edrington Park Community Centre, on Sunday 31 July.
Mr Mynard, a former reporter at Star News Group, said he had long been concerned about the probability of a massive flash flood hitting the 400-square kilometre swamp from a major rain event on the Dandenong Ranges.
He said his book, ‘On The Swamp’, although a semi-fictional novel, spelt out issues seriously in need of attention.
“We have no way of getting people off the swamp in the event of a flash flood, such as the 1934 inundation, which came with enormous speed,” he said.
“Because of my research I fear for what might, or according to some geologists and engineers, will happen on the swamp.
“We have a worsening situation because the ranges watershed is sending water into the swamp drainage system, which has highways, sound barriers, and faster running drains, built with no thought of the whole wide range of things.
“Water can now come down from the hills much faster and has the potential to produce a tidal wave flash flood across the swamp,” he said.
He said his book, like it or not, made people responsible for the land, culpable, if what he said could happen did happen.
“I hope very much to see people take note of my work and form a committee to debate my concerns to research and provide a report on my perception of the swamp’s vulnerability to flash flooding.
“I have friends and relatives living in the line of fire.
“I ask our universities to develop a ‘computerised model’ based on data from more recent drains, their flow rates from watershed rains, and where the water escapes are.
“This would provide data on expected flood levels in various areas for different rain events.
“My conversations with one university led to no more than a ramble from some professor about global warming. This issue has nothing to do with global warming; it is to do with local raining.
“The Dandenong Ranges received 300mm of rain to generate the massive 1934 flood.
“When this happens again water, once held up for three days, will be at Kooweerup in one day because of clearing, development, and bigger drains.
“Bear in mind, the major water escape ordered by a Royal Commission held in the late 1930s, and costing many thousands of dollars, the Yallock Outfall from Cora Lynn, was negated when they duplicated the South Gippsland Highway and blocked the outlet south of Kooweerup.
“I was unable to obtain a copy of the Royal Commission report because I was told they were all destroyed.
“Why were they destroyed?
“I have taken a lot of flak because of my views, but I guess I will push on with it.
“We absolutely must be aware of run-off flows from rain events of more than 150 millimetres (six inches) over two days; about the size of the February 2011 flood, which was a minor flood.
“I believe this is vital because residents, pets, and livestock, are in mortal danger.
“I believe the arguments in my book must be debated at length.
“We must build safe havens, in the form of wedges, above flood level predictions, to protect people against a major flash flood hitting Kooweerup with little warning.”
Former State Upper House MP Neil Lucas launched the book, commending Mr Mynard on his perserverance in bringing it to print.
“The book has had a long gestation given that Jim told me he was going to write it some 30 years ago,” he said.
Mr Lucas said the book was a story of “desperation and heartbreak”.
“It is a story of perserverance and achievement. And a story of the big flood which nearly washed away Kooweerup.”
He commended it as an “interesting read and a worthwhile addition to our local history” by an author “who thinks deeply about the current and future ecology of the swamp and Western Port Bay and the people who live there.
On The Swamp is available from glenowordbooks.com or by phoning Mr Mynard on 0417 567 741.
