Late last year Mr Knight bought The Manning River Times to read the page one article introducing council's new general manager, Ron Posselt.

"It's time for honest conversations with the community," Mr Posselt said. "Learning what the community expects, what things they think are non-negotiable and then looking at how that can fit into the funding sources we have."

A few months on, Mr Knight says he is providing Mr Posselt with "an opportunity to indicate that he is at the very least listening."

Mr Knight says council is aware of the drainage and environmental issues impacting on the community of Coopernook. There have been phone calls, correspondence with council and last year a site inspection by a council staff member. New year, new general manager - Mr Knight is hoping his voice will be heard and council will act.

There are numerous issues that need attention, according to Mr Knight.

"Coopernook Primary School is constantly battling invasions by disease-ridden mosquitoes; to the extent that staff carry spray cans for protection. Drainage is not simply a mosquito issue, there are all manner of other problems generated by what is really an easily resolved problem," Mr Knight said.

"The main difficulty is that Coopernook Road is dissected by Coopernook Creek which due to a complete lack of flow backs-up to a massive extent whenever we get even modest rainfall. "Twenty years ago you could canoe from the Lansdowne River right up to Coopernook Road - now the creek is so heavily infected with mangrove and casuarinas that water is slowed and silt has built-up to the point that there is no way water can flow down to the river as it did for eons past. Army ordinance maps and old photographs clearly show Coopernook Creek flowing into the Lansdowne River."

Mr Knight said he explained the raft of issues to the council officer during a tour of Coopernook.

"We took a thorough trip around the village and stopped at several points where he acknowledged some action was required, mainly due to blocked drains and overgrowth in run-off areas and that he would report the issues to the engineer," Mr Knight said. "Needless to say, no action has taken place nor have I been contacted with any follow-up comments or questions."

"No doubt there will be an argument put that the entire culvert needs to be replaced and why do half a job that will only need to be fixed in the future. My response to that is - why repair roads when they too will be replaced - one day."

Mr Knight flags the issue of flooding and suggests that should be a catalyst for action.

"Do we have to wait for a major flood to occur, inundating houses previously untouched, before suing council for its failure to protect us?" Mr Knight said

"Of course, we could be extremely lucky and have a flood of such magnitude that it cleans Coopernook Creek of all the silt and infestation of mangroves and casuarinas - the fact that it would destroy several houses at the same time would be of little or no concern to council as after all, there are only about one hundred votes in the village, not enough to count at election time.

"It is amazing that insurers have not been in contact with council as claims of some substance have been paid out by insurers over the last few years to residents impacted by flood water backing-up due to blocked drains, culverts and run-off areas."

Mr Knight says the community is keen to act in the wake of inaction by council, but is hesitant to do so as it is a matter that is governed by council.

"There are enough local residents with the right equipment to undertake some clearing to enable a better flow, however there is reluctance to do so given that it is a council responsibility and insurance concerns," Mr Knight explained.

"Why has the current situation been allowed to develop when council has been aware of this situation for years and does nothing to remediate the problem? There appears to be nothing stopping the creek being cleared of vegetation in spite of environmental concerns; the health and welfare of Coopernook residents has to be the primary concern."