As a larger amalgamated organisation Northern Beaches Council will seek to use its greater ‘clout’ to find a solution to frequent flooding that regularly disrupts busy Wakehurst Parkway, the major north-south stretch of roadway connecting Seaforth, Frenchs Forest and North Narrabeen.

The Council plans to set up an interagency working group, involving several NSW State Government bodies, to identify the factors causing and find environmentally sensitive ways of stopping recurrent flooding on Wakehurst Parkway from Middle Creek.

Northern Beaches Council’s Administrator Dick Persson AM said there have been renewed calls to address the flooding issue in anticipation of increased road-traffic demand associated with the development of the new Northern Beaches Hospital and rezoning of the adjacent Frenchs Forest precinct.

“The three former Councils of the Northern Beaches advocated through SHOROC that the NSW Government upgrade Wakehurst Parkway to provide flood free access to the new Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest.

“It is understood the RMS investigated some options for road upgrades however no action has been taken as yet.

“The Council’s interagency working group initiative puts in place, finally, a mechanism that will allow the various stakeholder organisations a way forward,” Mr Persson said.

While Wakehurst Parkway is a Roads and Maritime Services asset, Northern Beaches Council is responsible for managing both Middle Creek and Narrabeen Lagoon. The Council also manages much of the Crown Land in the area.

Other State Government agencies, including the Office of Environment and Heritage and the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Fisheries Departments who are charged with environmental protection of the adjacent area, and the Department of Industry is a major landholder in the Wakehurst Parkway vicinity.

Council will engage a specialist flood consultant as soon as possible to advise the working group who will present a thorough analysis of the flooding problem by 30 June 2017.

A report will be presented to the July Council meeting.