RESIDENTS living beside Cleveland’s troubled Wynyard St parkland say a long-running drainage issue is now affecting their health, homes and quality of life, turning parts of the area into a stagnant, mosquito-ridden swamp.
But Redland City Council says investigations have found the problem is not linked to its infrastructure, instead pointing to groundwater seepage associated with a nearby telecommunications pit.
The worsening conditions have left some residents questioning their decision to move in, with one saying she would never have bought into the area had she known the extent of the problem.
Tracey Saverin, who moved into Wynyard Street Garden Village in August 2025, said the once-accessible green space behind her villa had become a “sludgy, green, smelly, mosquito-infested” hazard.
“Because our villa backs onto that path that takes you into Cleveland, but also the local school, the kids use that as a thoroughfare,” she said.
“It’s got a real rotten smell – you know what stagnant water smells like – like sewage.”
Ms Saverin said the issue had persisted for years despite periodic maintenance.
“I spoke to the contractor. He said: ‘I’ve been mowing this block of land on and off for the last six years, and it has never changed’,” she said.
“He said it used to be beautiful, clear running water … then with the rain that we’ve had over the period of time, it just never got fixed again.”
The concerns build on long-standing complaints, with neighbour Chris Orpin previously telling Council the park had effectively become a swamp due to drainage failures believed to be linked to underground infrastructure.
Council, however, says no leaks have been detected from nearby water or sewer mains.
In a statement, a spokesperson said testing confirmed the water was clean and not originating from Council- managed infrastructure.
Instead, investigations indicated the water was “most likely naturally occurring groundwater seeping along underground conduits” connected to a telecommunications cable pit beside Wynyard St.
“Water quality testing confirmed there were no contaminants present at the time of testing that would pose a risk to public health,” the spokesperson said.
Council said it became involved following community feedback after concerns the issue had not been resolved by the telecommunications company.
It is now assessing options to drain the pit and redirect water to an existing drainage point, with works expected within six months, subject to final assessments.
Local councillor Cr Peter Mitchell said he was continuing to advocate for a permanent fix.
“I have been actively working with the residents’ representatives for some time,” he said.
“We will be sticking together until the permanent solution is delivered.”
Cr Mitchell praised residents for their persistence and said a solution could be found.
“A more natural and green solution is preferred over concrete, but we need a solution,” he said.
For residents, however, the impacts are immediate.
“It’s all year round now. All it takes is just a couple of light showers and then it’s back towards slime,” Ms Saverin said. “It’s the toads that are breeding like wildfire … they are like hulks; they are so massive.”
She said the conditions had fundamentally changed how residents live.
“We downsized for our so-called semi-retirement years, but if I’d have known that that was going to be a big sludgy, green, smelly, mosquito-infested backyard, I definitely wouldn’t have ever signed on the dotted line,” she said.
Health concerns are also emerging, with reports of mould and respiratory issues linked to damp conditions.
Residents believe the issue may stem from past works in the area –despite repeated complaints, they say little has changed.
“I put in a complaint at the beginning of this year … they said they would be looking into it as far as what to do next,” Ms Saverin said.
“But this has been going on now for over six year.”
Frustrated but determined, she says she will keep pushing.
“I’m like a dog with a bone – I’m not going to give up.”
A petition has been lodged with Council calling for urgent action to restore the park and address ongoing health and safety risks.
