DAYTON resident Geoff Williams says water flooding on part of his property, which is likely to become a bigger issue as urbanisation continues, is also a potential safety issue for small children in the area.

Mr Williams, who lives on Victoria Road near Keller’s Farm, said the flooding on his land started last winter after fill was brought in for the urban development to the east and north of him.

This year after a limestone retaining wall went in, the water flooding in had nowhere to go.

Recently there was a pool of water, which was  about 40cm deep in one corner of his block and because the water could not run off it meant he was unable to drive his trucks in that area.

He said the area was actually a natural drainage spot.

“There was natural drainage from all this – it just flowed, came to the surface where it could, and then from about the development through to the Kellers is the natural drain and that all went slowly to the river as a natural little (stream),’’ he said.

“But now it’s all blocked up with a metre and a half of sand and walls and all sorts of things, and it was (always )going to happen.’’

He said about 10 years ago he and another local went to see residents on behalf of the council and explained that there might be a development, they might be asked to sell, to get a feel and see where the boundary should be.

“And the hydrologist report that we got said that it’s not suitable for a suburban development because it’s too low and would cause a lot of problems and that if it was going to be developed it had to be raised up nearly 2m everywhere.

“But that in itself would cause problems because the pressure will push the water, all the root water and fertiliser and stuff, push it into the river and cause algal blooms and so on, which it has.’’

The natural drainage area is divided by a built up road.

“And it’s no good building my place up because all that will do is transfer (the issue elsewhere).’’

He said the City of Swan wanted to have the natural drainage area on his property filled in but he did not want that as the water would then flood his shed and his house.

If you have a flooding or drainage issue in Dayton or the surrounding area email anita.mcinnes@echo-news.com