The family barrister said nobody had told the residents about potential risks and the department had not advised the residents that there was no padlock on the culvert hatch.
Referring to Noah’s death, the family barrister said “he’d still be here” if there was a security screen at the site.
She also pointed out that a parent of two young children from Northwood Road has stated that she thought the area was dangerous.
The family barrister said this indicated that the woman was “completely unaware” of safety concerns at the site.
The department official insisted that a debris screen was appropriate at the location for the purpose of managing issues including the risk of downstream flooding at homes on the Shore Road.
He also added: “Where there are lessons to be learned, we’ll learn those lessons.”
The inquest has previously been told by the department official that the area around the culvert entrance was not accessible to the public and that access was limited to the occupants of four nearby homes at Northwood Road.
Noah was last seen running naked between some of the nearby houses towards private back gardens adjoining the culvert site.
