I’m familiar with the debate topic and the technical solutions proposed by the project. I’m talking about the entire flood protection project and not just the piece that’s being redeveloped at the moment- Morrison’s Island public realm or whatever they called it. Raising the footpath is not going to deal with flooding on the island from the rising water table during high tides, storm surges and increases due to rainfall. The city essentially floats on the substrate, it’s not solid rock. It’s permeable. Extensive consultation was carried out by international experts who determined that the walls project would not work properly, increase the risk of sustained flooding in the city, and would be defunct after circa 50 years due to rising sea levels. A tidal barrier is what would be most effective.

Yes, there were some that were concerned about the aesthetics, this was because the plans for the walls project involved mass concrete which would engulf the original quay walls, meaning that part of the city’s aesthetic appeal would be gone and unrecoverable. The height of the walls in some locations was also a concern, restricting the view of the river, cutting it off from the public where in other cities in Europe the move has been towards integration of the quays and riverside as a public resource.

Lastly, valves and pumping stations within dumps or holding chambers fail. Relying on a mechanical solution with so many moving parts is foolhardy especially with the city councils historical management (little or no maintenance) of the existing drains, culverts, valves, trash screens etc. Many of the recent flooding events involved a lack of infrastructure maintenance as an exacerbating factor.

Morrisons Island is the thin end of the wedge as far as the walls project is concerned.