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Despite moves to alleviate potential flooding in Weaber Plain Road, residents are far from pleased with the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley.
Whilst praising the Shire for its decision to finally take major action, they are critical of its lack of accepting responsibility for being the cause of the problem.
In November 2001, the Shire used a 30-tonne excavator to dig a massive drain from the catchment area above Weaber Plain Road.
The area is Unallocated Crown Land and the Department of Water (then the Water and Rivers Commission) was not asked to approve the original drain construction.
Instead of alleviating minor flooding, the drain exacerbated the problem with the water flowing much faster and causing massive erosion.
This in turn led to unprecedented flooding of properties on the western side of Weaber Plain Road and the depositing of tens of thousands of cubic metres of unwanted sand on properties.
Property owners have corresponded non-stop with the Shire and relevant government departments since September 2002 - mostly to little avail.
In a recent media release, calling for volunteers to help fix the problem, the Shire stated: "It is believed that fire and the use of motorbikes in the area exacerbate the erosion.
"The Shire has requested that people refrain from the use of motorbikes and other motorised vehicles in the area."
Nowhere does it take responsibility for the original actions that led to the problems.
In a letter to Local Member Carol Martin, last month, one resident stated: "It is my greatest fear that, should we get a big enough downpour, we might not be as lucky as we were in March this year.
"Inevitably, these situations always arise in the dead of night and it is now commonplace to experience regular sleepless wet season nights worrying about the possibility of having to move my young family due to this drain."
Some residents want the Shire to construct levee banks on their properties to protect them and their houses from flooding.
They feel that, as the Shire (although not the present officers) was responsible for the problem, it should bear the cost.
Neighbours are also very worried that with the onset of the wet season, the Shire may have already left it too late.
This time around, the Shire has obtained relevant approvals from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the Department of Water.
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