FED up Port MacDonnell residents have described the man-made Hammond’s Drain as an “engineering disaster” that should be demolished.
The drain – located in the heart of the seaside town – was dredged last week following enquiries by The Border Watch to the South Eastern Water Conservation Drainage Board.
This followed complaints over the stagnant sludge, liquid and debris accumulated in the drain.
While the foul-smelling “rotten egg” odour wafting over the seaside town has eased, this band-aid solution is not enough according to local resident Deborah Seidel.
Living in Port MacDonnell for the past 20 years, Ms Seidel said she was not the only person who wanted the “disgusting eyesore” bulldozed.
“I think from a community perspective, we want to get rid of it and see what nature does for a while,” she said.
“With all this new technology, if there is a problem we should be able to reconstruct something which actually does its job.”
Hammond’s Drain was built in the 1900s to enable development of the Port MacDonnell township and to improve farming land north of the township.
Ms Seidel said times had changed since the drain was installed, and the area’s water table had dropped.
“It is not a natural formation and it does not do what it is meant to half the time,” she said.
“There is never any water in it anyway even in winter, so it does not seem to have a purpose anymore.
“It really is quite ridiculous, maybe it is redundant and it could be time for it to be demolished.”
Ms Seidel said the drain’s outlet into MacDonnell Bay – located between the jetty and the Woolwash – always seemed to smell after the tide brought in a large amount of seaweed and rubbish.
Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
“There is an argument nothing can be done about it structurally, so if the only solution is for it to be cleaned, it needs to be done regularly,” she said.
“Once every month would prevent it from being such a stinking eyesore and becoming smelly.
“It only happens when somebody makes a noise and I think people are just tired of making a noise now.”
Ms Seidel said the biggest problem was the town had been living with it for so long and had just become accustomed to it.
“To me, it seems like the drain runs at a constant level and not on a lean, but I am not an engineer,” she said.
“So the sand and solids which run through it remain there until more water can push it through.
“It is creating huge problems.
“The grate in the middle of the drain collects hard rubbish and does not get cleaned either … it is disgusting.”
Ms Seidel said the drain was not just a Port MacDonnell issue, but a Limestone Coast problem.
“In summer, people want to be by the sea and that is a reality,” she said.
“If they come and visit our seaside town, they venture to Mount Gambier to look at the Blue Lake and other surrounding attractions.
“If they are let down, they will not visit again and I think the smell would largely have impact on this.”
According to the drainage board yesterday, the work was completed last week.
The board has advised officers from the board and council – who would normally advise of the seaweed buildup – were on leave at the time and the board “appreciates and responds to calls from the public” if accumulated seaweed is causing a problem.
The public can call 8730 3500 to report a problem to the board.
“There has also been a scheduled clean out before the Christmas break this year to avoid this being a problem over the next holiday break,” the department said.
