Every time there is significant rain on the Central Coast, the intersection of Central Coast Hwy and Racecourse Rd at West Gosford goes underwater.
Traffic chaos ensued last week when the intersection was inundated during heavy storms, with motorists left stranded and access to the Gosford city centre and to the M1 cut off.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, is calling on the State Government to invest in sufficient drainage on Central Coast Hwy at West Gosford, which is used by thousands of cars daily.
“For years Central Coast Highway West Gosford has been under water during heavy rain, a cost too high for Coasties who are fed up with the ‘solutions’ that have not worked and NSW Government’s lack of interest in the major road,” Tesch said.
“Last Wednesday as Coasties struggled to get their kids to school, paramedics were delayed in getting their patients to hospital and workers experienced the huge road block on their way to work, I put forward a Notice of Motion in NSW Parliament, calling on the Perrottet Government to invest in improving drainage infrastructure.
“We know the Central Coast Highway connects the Central Coast to hospitals, schools, businesses and even to Sydney.
“Every day over 70,000 motorists use Central Coast Highway.
“It’s not hard to find out that the flooding on Tuesday (February 22) impacted thousands of people.
“In 2015 the NSW Liberal Government upgraded the intersection which was supposed to alleviate the drainage issues but instead it has only made the drainage worse.”
Jasmin Fairweather, 18, of Springfield was stuck in the floodwaters as she attempted to drive to Sydney for her first day at Macquarie University.
“I was sitting at the lights at that intersection and by the time the lights had turned green my car was already stuck,” she said.
“The water had just come so fast.
“There was no possibility for me to turn around because there were cars behind me.
“I was quite emotional and terrified.
“The water was rising and the big cars and trucks driving through were pushing me further into the water.
“The fire brigade had to come and get me out.
“Because it was my first day at university and I am doing a double degree of communications and law I was already stressed.
“The trauma from that day was really bad and it is still with me.
“It’s making me fall behind and I’ve only just started.
“My car was written off so now I do not have a mode of transport.
“I live in a granny flat and I am struggling to get my groceries, go to work and now for uni I am going to have to rely on public transport which was already down anyway.
“My car was not insured because it was expensive to insure it.
“But although I did not have insurance it was not my fault.
“It was the result of the water rising so fast and poor planning by the Government.
“If I could tell the Government one thing it would be to provide compensation in situations like this, not only for houses but also cars.
“We should not have to fork out thousands of dollars for an intersection the Government is responsible for.”
Tesch said Coasties can’t keep footing the bill for the NSW Liberal Government’s mistakes.
A Central Coast Council spokesperson said meetings had been held with Transport NSW at the intersection to further assess what can be done to minimise local flooding at times of heavy rainfall and tidal events.
The spokesperson said Council crews were scheduled to undertake downstream works on March 1 to minimise impacts of flooding where heavy rainfall and storm activity is exacerbated by high tides.
“This will not stop flooding of the intersection; however it will reduce the impact of overland flow and allow surface water to dissipate quicker,” the spokesperson said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, apologised to motorists caught up in last week’s flooding.
“It is incredibly frustrating; this is a major road link for so many commuters on the Central Coast,” Crouch said.
“I have raised the issue with Minister for Regional Roads, Sam Farraway, and also with the Director for Roads and Transport on the Central Coast.
“We are working together with Council to find a long-term solution to this flooding problem.”
Terry Collins
An overhead pass from the base of the hill from Kariong meeting up with Racecourse Roadmear the tennis courts. As ambulances also come from Point Clare an access road onto this overpass wouldn’t go astray.
Having lived right near that intersection for 20 years, a major contributing factor is the creek behind the Motor Dealer and Adcock Avenue. Council previously had a program to clear the creek/drain regularly. Now a Council Officer advised me” its an environmental catchment pond”. What a load of rubbish, it is now a silted up drain clogged with weeds, overgrown non-native trees, nothing can runoff. Ok tidal does have an impact, but the drain used to have turtles in it, now its just weeds. there is no chance for any run off.
Takes the public to take the covers off things not being addressed as real problems. Someone in council is responsible. Where are the Dept Heads who should be ensuring things get done? Had me thinking. Could be that drains all over State are continually Blocked with Soil, mud, debris from prev. floods & lack of dams/ongoing disputes only half the cause. Speed of floodwater lifting tremendous amounts of mud. “Too hard basket” maybe. Easier to sit in an office.