Photo: Village residents Janet Perry and Marj Parsons with the petition to address the levee.
Residents at Koonambil Village have started a petition to address issues with the nearby levee bank.
‘When Koonambil Aged Care Hostel was built there was a beautiful view across the paddocks, with the Warrrambungle Mountains in the background,’ the petition says.
When Koonambil Village was being planned, the proposal was brought before a Residents’ meeting and the Residents requested that this view not be built out.
‘When the levee was built this view was compromised, and the levee is now an eyesore.
‘It is our opinion that as it now stands with weeds and long grasses, the levee is also a fire hazard, with a dry storm likely to start a blaze that could threaten the adjoining Motel and nearby homes.’
The petition asks that the southern end of the levee bank be reduced in height and the Coonamble Shire Council “beautify” the area “perhaps by planting bougainvilleas or other hardy shrubs.”
“We might see the very top of the mountain and that’s it,” said Marjorie Parsons, one of the residents in the village.
“Some of the people in the units have lived their whole lives in the wide open spaces so it can feel shut in.”
The levee was originally built in 1977.
Koonambil Aged Care was constructed in 1995, with the independent living Koonambil Village added in 2016.
The levee was renewed in three stages, with the bank on the east reaching the highway opposite the Showground in around August 2017.
Before the extension, the levee tapered off towards the end but it now remains the same height throughout the length of the construction, dropping quite sharply at the southern end.
Francie Parsons and husband Lindsay (dec.) moved in in January 2017.
“That’s why we picked this unit, so he could look at the cattle, the horses and the mountains,” Francie said.
“None of us liked it when they did it.
“The water has never been across the road there. We can’t work out why they did it.”
Janet Perry, another resident at Koonambil has signed and supported the petition to have the levee lowered.
“I just don’t get why it has to be so high,” said Mrs Perry.
Coonamble hasn’t flooded since the 1950s and, according to Janet, Koonambil Village lies on the highest part of town.
Aside from the spoiled views, the edge of the levee is covered in growth, including umbrella grass and noxious weeds like Noogoora burr.
Manager of the nearby Rams Motel, Latha Pothu, said she had previously complained to council about the overgrowth.
“They said they had organised someone to come down and nothing has happened.”
Ms Pothu said the previous motel owners, Bob and Jean Ware, also requested council to clean-up the levee two years ago but it was never actioned.
Residents are continuing to collect signatures on the petition and plan to file it with council shortly.