SA Water agrees to fund $3.3 million pipe for Willow Dr, Paradise, after burst water main flooded home
A DETERMINED group of residents whose homes sustained millions of dollars in flood damage have finally won their battle for SA Water to take action to prevent a repeat of their nightmare.
- Burst water mains flood homes at Paradise
- SA Water accepts responsibility for flooded homes
- Residents blast SA Water over response to flooding
A DETERMINED group of residents whose homes sustained millions of dollars in flood damage have finally won their battle for SA Water to take action to prevent a repeat of their nightmare.
The utility has agreed to fund a new $3.3 million pipe, after initially refusing to provide a $40,000 drain for the residents, whose cul-de-sac was flooded eight months ago by a burst water main.
About half a dozen residents have moved back into Willow Dr, Paradise, after two burst pipes sent water gushing into their homes in March, causing millions of dollars of damage.
The residents had been in consultation with Campbelltown Council and SA Water over how to drain the cul-de-sac if another water mains burst.
“A new $3.3 million pipeline will be built that provides a level of system flexibility to deliver water safely and ensure the events of March are not repeated,” an SA Water spokesman said.
The spokesman said the century-old burst pipe was taken offline following the flood for investigations and has since been decommissioned.
SA Water initially told the council “they are not in a position” to fund a $40,000 drain that would have directed water out to River Torrens.
Council staff believed a drain pipe could provide additional protection to residents if there was another burst water main, although it wouldn’t guarantee “they won’t be flooded in the future”.
However, in an about-face SA Water has now committed to funding the $3.3 million pipe, which will be in a different location to the old mains but still supply drinking water to the area.
In a letter to residents a day after The Advertiser’s inquiries last week, SA Water said it would liaise with the council carrying out their stormwater infrastructure “which will further reduce any risks to flooding in general” alongside the pipe works.
Resident Elaine Pizimolas, whose son’s car was submerged during the March 7 flood, was “cautiously optimistic” with the outcome.
“We just hope things will go ahead as promised,” she said.
But she remains concerned about a trench dug out on a levy during the March flood to drain the water into the river now being under threat from rising river levels.
She said she had to sandbag the trench twice during heavy rains in September.
“I rang Campbelltown (Council) and they are going to fill in the trench soon,” she said.
Linton Schiller, whose house walls were severely damaged in March, said he was extremely happy that the old pipe would be closed.
The March flood was caused by operators at the Hope Valley Water Treatment Plant, who activated the wrong valves, causing pressure to the water mains and rupturing them, a report showed.
