That isn’t water pouring over
AFTER witnessing floodwater pouring over the Grafton levee wall into their yards and homes on Tuesday, residents near Fry St were gobsmacked to read it hadn't happened.
One resident, Aaron Hancock, was incensed when a friend pointed out comments from Clarence Valley Council deputy general manager Rob Donges that the water in his yard came from "wave action".
"Water was pouring over the top of the wall until we put sandbags along the wall," he said.
"Then the water looked like it was going to come over them as well, so we put another layer on.
"And we had two big petrol pumps going for four hours to keep the water out of our homes."
Mr Hancock said in addition to the water spilling over the top there was water spraying through seams in the levee wall.
He said water was coming over the wall at about 10 properties from the bridge side of Fry St through to Dobie St.
He said the levee seemed lower at this point than others on the north side of Grafton.
"I would say it's half a Besser block lower than just up at Pound St," he said.
When presented with photo- graphic evidence of sheets of water coming over the wall, Mr Donges supports his council staff.
"It's one we'll have to beg to differ on," he said.
"I've spoken to (operations manager) Tim Jenkins and he stands by his report that it was intermittent wave action that caused the water to spill over the levee.
"It's not what he considers 'overtopping'.
"If the water was coming over the top of the levee consistently he would have ordered the immediate evacuation of the area."
Mr Donges said the fact sandbags were able to contain the spillage was an indication it was not an overtopping of the levee.
"Sandbags will not stop the water coming through when it overtops," he said.
