The City of Mandurah have agreed to temporarily stand down plans to build a stormwater drain on Peel Parade in Coodanup, after residents raised a number of concerns about the project.
City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said the city would continue the program to upgrade traditional drainage infrastructure with water sensitive urban design systems.
"The program focuses on the management of drainage catchments to improve the quality of stormwater being discharged into the environment and minimising risks of flooding to residents and property," he said.
"Construction works at Kurdal Road, Peel Parade and Wamba Road in Coodanup got underway this week and are expected to take four to six weeks to complete, depending on the weather.
"The city wrote to the residents on May 13, 2019, providing an overview of the works including a map highlighting the key design elements.
"Officers also met with residents this week to discuss the project with an agreement to continue with stage one."
Resident Doreen White said she had a "three-foot ditch" outside the front of her home.
"I bought this undeveloped property for my retirement and it was a bush block so I developed it and have maintained it," she said.
"In the morning there is rubbish out there, dirty nappies, food containers, those sort of things. So we pick them up and put it in the bin - not a hassle.
"But when this big open drain is there, three-foot deep, I'm not going to get in an open drain and pick up rubbish
"Can you imagine when that gets just a little bit of water in it, the mosquitoes and filth and green slime?"
Maureen Martin said more community consultation was needed and that her property would be devalued due to the City of Mandurah's decision.
"Until Thursday, when we got these letters, we had not been contacted at all," she said.
"Nobody else got any letters or communication, nobody in the area even knows it's happening so we're going around telling people it is happening and they are absolutely shocked.
"They've known they are going to do it for 18 months I think because there have been sticks in the ground marking it out.
"Apparently down the road they have flooding from the drain pipes.
"I'm horrified that it is allowed to happen on such a beautiful area.
"We don't want to open our front doors and see a big hole there or a big fence - it's going to devalue our property. Nobody is going to want to buy the properties with that sitting there."
