Drainage works relief

A FERNTREE Gully businesswoman has welcomed news that the City of Knox is carrying out further works on drainage in the area after a number of shops were flooded recently.
Just two weeks ago Chris Baxter of Foothills Healing Centre called on the council to take a hard look at the drainage along Wyuna street which is located at the back of four shops that bore the brunt of recent flooding.
The Chinese restaurant, the Chook Station, Foothills Healing Centre and Med-Assess have all been affected by flood several times over the past two years.
Ms Baxter said she had ripped up the carpet after the latest flooding and was not sure what she would do if the flooding continued.
The council is now undertaking work to improve the drainage in Wyuna Street.
Director of engineering and infrastructure Ian Bell said at the time of the floods that although there was adequate drainage in Wyuna Street, the two drainage pits on the street were blocked with debris at the time of the storm and water overflowed into nearby properties.
Since the flooding, Mr Bell said the council has done further assessments of the drainage in Wyuna Street and has decided to undertake further works.
Mr Bell said the council would be widening the size of the side entry pits in the street as well as converting the junction pit on the car park in Wyuna Street into a side entry pit.
He said both these improvements would enable the water to flow into the drainage systems and prevent blockages in the future.