FIRST-home buyer Sarah Kernighan’s dream house has turned into a nightmare after being flooded 12 times in the past five years.
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The trouble started for the Redan resident even before she moved into her new home in 2007.
“Two days before moving in, the house got flooded,” Ms Kernighan said.
“Since then I have been flooded 12 times.
“Pretty much every time we get a decent downpour, down she comes.
“Every time it rains I get scared.”
Ms Kernighan, who is taking her builder to VCAT over several issues, including building the house below the road level, also blames the City of Ballarat for a failure to clear the stormwater drains near her house.
“Council has built a spoon drain in front of my house ... it was full of leaves, silt, stones and muck when it rained three weeks ago.”
“The council can’t do a simple thing like maintaining drains.
“If I could lift it I would clean it myself.”
Ballarat Mayor Mark Harris said the council felt for Ms Kernighan and her situation.
“We are working closely with her to offer what assistance we can,” Cr Harris said.
“The chief executive (Anthony Schinck) has met with Sarah personally to talk through a range of issues she has experienced.”
Cr Harris said that, based on the council’s assessment so far, no single action could entirely prevent Ms Kernighan’s property from flooding in future.
“Our only objective is to do what we can to minimise where possible the risks of that happening,” he said.
“This includes maintenance of the stormwater pit, and offering personal assistance to Sarah in relation to her building issues.”
