GAWLER Belt locals are concerned that the proposed Gawler and Surrounds Stormwater Management Plan, which Light Regional Council says is in its final stages of development, will see a large stormwater drain built in their backyards.

Geraldine McKenney said she and her husband, Lee, feel disrespected by Light Regional Council, and find it preposterous that a proposal would ever come forward that advocated for an open drain on a property.

“We feel as though we’re at the back-end of the council,” she said.

“We ring up and we say we’re in Gawler Belt and they say ‘where’s that?’

“I’m worried about the mosquitoes and everything else we’re going to get from it, like the vermin and all the weeds that come with water flowing through our properties.

“Also the safety issues – I’m worried a child or animal could fall in.”

Light Regional Council’s general manager of infrastructure and environment, Richard Dodson, said the council is now awaiting the summary report to be provided to the project steering group, which will help shape the final plan.

“There is quite a bit to consider as the community has provided some very valuable suggestions and feedback,” he said.

Neighbour of the McKenney’s, Barry Conway, said the proposed drain would ruin both the value of his property, and his ability to build further onto his own land.

“I’m in the process of handing my property over to my children at some stage, and I’m sure that having a large, open drain 150 metres out my back door will certainly lower the value of the place,” he said.

“Any flood mitigation plan I’ve read has the water being put somewhere where it’s actually discharged into a creek, or river, or sea.

“We’ve got a situation here where they’re just planning on discharging large amounts of flood water into our backyards.

“I think it’s purely a matter of convenience for them… someone’s done an academic exercise to work out a flood plan, without really looking at the implications of people that actually live here.”