Residents of Curlew Court in Hastings say repeated flooding has become an ongoing safety concern, prompting a quick response from Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillor Michael Stephens, who attended the scene and spoke directly with affected locals.
Residents told STPL News the street floods multiple times a year, leaving driveways submerged and residents unable to safely enter or exit their properties. One long-term resident, who asked not to be named, said the problem has persisted for nearly a decade.
“It’s been an ongoing problem with no resolution. People on this street have multiple health problems — what happens if they need emergency services and can’t get in and out of their driveway?” the resident said.
The resident said the issue occurs “each and every time we get rain” and has been reported to the Shire numerous times without a lasting fix.
Councillor Stephens quick to respond
Cr Stephens inspected the site shortly after receiving reports from the community and said it was clear the flooding was a recurring issue.
“It happens every time it really pelts down,” he said. “Someone is usually sent out to clean the drain, but it looks like there may be a blockage or the drain itself might not be large enough to handle the flow.”
He confirmed that he had contacted the council’s support team to organise a formal assessment and said both short- and long-term solutions would be explored.
“At its deepest point, the water’s around 200 millimetres — about eight inches deep,” Cr Stephens said. “You can see that some houses are worse affected than others. There’s a creek behind the properties where the drain likely leads, but it’s probably blocked with leaves and debris.”
Cr Stephens said Curlew Court sits at the lowest point of the estate and may not have been adequately designed to handle storm-water runoff when first developed.
“When you build an estate, you’ve got to drain it properly,” he said. “The drains here might simply be inadequate for coping with heavy rainfall.”
Weather warning adds urgency
The call for action comes as the Mornington Peninsula region faces a severe weather warning. A warning issued for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, forecasts winds up to 110 km/h, rain and possible thunderstorms across the Peninsula and Frankston area.
These conditions increase the risk of flooding and blocked drains in low-lying or poorly drained streets — exactly the kind of problem residents of Curlew Court say they face regularly.
Residents hoping for a lasting fix
Residents say they hope this latest flooding event will prompt a long-term solution to what has become a familiar problem on their street. Cr Stephens has raised the matter with council officers and is awaiting further updates.
Ah Yes, more drainage concerns.