More than 20 residents from James Street and Wembley Road have formed a community action group and started a petition to seek a “proper solution” from council.

Group spokesperson Edna Carmichael organised a roadside meeting with Goulburn MP Pru Goward to highlight the damage done to residents’ yards in times of heavy rain.

“The water is constantly in our yards. It never dries out,” she said.

“We had a boat before we moved here – we didn’t think we’d need to keep it.” 

Ms Carmichael said the water came from the top of Moss Vale to the Illawarra Highway and banked up in a table drain at the railway line behind Wembley Road.

Several residents said they had contacted council about the problem, to be told that water run-off from neighbours yards was not a council issue.

Resident Dave Stock said that improper planning was to blame for the ongoing issue.

“It seems when council allowed this development they didn’t require the developer to conduct proper drainage works,” he said.

“Now we have to use our own money to fix a problem we never should have had.”

During the site visit, Ms Goward said the issue was a core council responsibility.

“I’ve written to council about this, but I will also speak to Mark Pepping directly and call the ARTC to identify who is responsible for the land here,” she said.

In the meantime, residents are collecting signatures on a petition which will be submitted to council.

For more information contact Edna Carmichael at 51ednac@gmail.com