While not getting an immediate commitment to stopping water from coming into the building that Jamberoo Preschool rents from Council, Jamberoo Preschool’s Director, Belinda Hibbert, is glad the issue is being taken seriously [Jamberoo Preschool flooded again].

“I am happy they are going to do something, but I’m disappointed they didn’t take my point about stopping the water coming in,” she says.

In mid-February, the Preschool – in a building attached to the Jamberoo School of Arts – was flooded for the sixth time, with other close calls, since she has been there.

In response to this flood, the February Meeting of Council resolved to immediately investigate and establish an early warning system to provide notice to the Preschool of impending flooding, provided it can get the funding from the State Government.

“Human safety is the most important issue during any disaster, so it is in everyone’s best interests to install an early warning system because the sooner we can notify and keep those kids safe the better,” says Council CEO Jane Stroud.

“It will also give Belinda and her team time to move things into the hall so that the cleanup is less and they don’t lose as much.”

While Ms Hibbert can see the merit in a sensor for times when flooding happens during operational hours, it won’t stop the costs being borne by the Preschool as the last three flood events have come at night.

“It still means the staff will have to come in and clean up and possibly throw toys and resources away,” she says.

“It is emotionally and physically draining.

“With our insurance excess at $30,000, we just can’t afford to claim.

“I need the water to stop coming into the building.”

Providing a flood proof barrier at the rear of the Preschool was one of the recommendations of Council’s Flood Study, but Council does not have the money to implement this.

“We are in a difficult financial situation where we cannot, by ourselves, guarantee a short or long term solution,” says Mayor Neil Reilly.

“What we can do is reach out to State Government elected officials to help us in this terrible situation.”

All parties agree that the Preschool should be moved. The resolution seeks the support of Government and Shadow ministers to make this happen. The relocation, possibly to within Jamberoo PS, already has backing from local member Gareth Ward.