It comes as last year’s record-breaking rainfall caused the creek to spill its banks and, with another wet winter predicted this year, residents are voting with their signatures to fix the forgotten waterway now.

According to Cootamundra resident Belinda Scott, the town’s primary water supply and drainage system has been overrun with non-native species, verminous fauna and noxious weeds for some time, but she says council has been dragging its feet in tackling the problem.

“The creek bed is overrun with rushes, weeds, incidental garden escapes and potentially noxious weeds like the African Boxthorn, suckering elms and poplars – all non-native week species,” Ms Scott said.

“Water is no longer free to flow down the Muttama Creek.”

In an impassioned statement to council members on Monday,  Ms Scott presented a petition signed by more than 330 residents outlining the council’s responsibility for management of the creek.

“We do not believe that care of duty is being carried out by this council in relation to the Muttama Creek,” she said.

“Water that is blocked by this debris is stagnant and unhealthy – it smells, is sour and is breeding mosquitoes – whilst large quantities of sewage escape into the creek after significant rainfall. 

“The creek bed is a haven for vermin and harbours snakes, water rats and foxes which live on the frogs and any other critters in and around the creek.”

Ms Scott was adamant that it was the council’s legal responsibility to care for the Muttama Creek and cross-checked this claim with the Department of Primary Industries. 

She said it was a simple expectation that the council should maintain the biodiversity of Cootamundra’s waterways.

“337 signatories are calling on this council to ensure the creek is healthy and safe for the local community,” Ms Scott said. “In essence, the community expects the council to maintain the creek bed and its immediate environment on a regular and ongoing basis just in the same way it does so well for the other parks and gardens throughout Cootamundra.”

The Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council vowed to look into the issue at its monthly meeting on Monday night.