Gardenia Drive resident wants answers on Birkdale development after garden flooded,damaged

Residents living in Gardenia Drive are fed up with an empty lot, earmarked for a development, saying the drainage is insufficient.

Resident Merv Mortensen said the water damage had wrecked his property and caused him months of stress.

Mr Mortensen's garden and patio are flooded when it rains as the water on the empty lot gushes into his property.

"I dug a trench to try and alleviate the damage, but the water has flooded my garden... my patio is destroyed, carpets are shot and there is damp, mould on the windowsills," he said.

He said he had forked out about $15000 but still the problem persisted.

"The paving has lifted in the garden... council dropped off sandbags, but now these are broken and scattered all over the garden. It's a mess," he said.

This is not the first time, Mr Mortensen has raised the issue. In November the neighbours got together and alerted council and the developer to the problem.

Residents have opposed the development since 2016.

A Redland City Council spokesperson said officers had been in contact with affected property owners, the developer and contractors including numerous site inspections.

"In December last year, council issued the developer with an infringement for a breach of the Environmental Protection Act for insufficient erosion sediment controls."

In March, council slapped the developer with an enforcement notice which had three stages:

The developer had to put temporary stormwater measures in place to minimise the impact to neighbouring properties. Followed by detailed plans for a permanent stormwater solution by April and then install the stormwater measures by July.

Mr Mortensen said he had sought legal advice, contacted the Ombudsman, but the problem persisted and he was desperate for a solution.

"I'm stressed, I'm not sleeping... I just want it to stop," he said.

A council spokesperson said there had been some works undertaken on the site by the developer to alleviate the overland water flow to neighbouring properties.

"However council has not received detailed plans from the developer that suitably address a permanent stormwater solution.

"Council is reviewing compliance with the enforcement notice and is considering appropriate avenues, which includes potential legal proceedings," he said.