Biohazard council fault leaves family homeless

Like something out of a dark comedy or a horror film, a young Bundaberg family did everything they could to stop or even slow the spread of unholy sludge that invaded their home one Sunday afternoon, but it has been the terrible aftermath of that incident that has tested them almost beyond their limits.

When Bundaberg couple Kale Johnson and Cathy Chapman returned home with their five children after footy training one recent Sunday, they were greeted by the sight of their home flooded in sewage.

It was June 19, 2022 and after opening their front door the rotten stench of their neighbourhood’s faeces floating up through their bathroom plumbing assailed their noses.

The family began a mad dash to stop the vile sludge from spreading throughout the house, grabbing blankets, towels and sheets to create barricades around the bathroom.

Their efforts did little to prevent the spread, however, as the waste water seeped into carpets, under the lino and into the walls.

After contacting their landlord, and then a plumber, it was discovered the sewage was coming from a Bundaberg council pipeline pump that had broken down.

As the unholy sludge continued to spread through their house, Mr Johnson and Miss Chapman desperately tried to stop it.

“Every time someone on the street flushed their toilet, more sewage came up,” Mr Johnson said.

The family used towels, blankets and clothes to create barricades against the rising sewage water.

The family spent hours using mops, hoses and brushes to sweep the sewage out of their home in what Mr Johnson called the most degrading moment of his life.

“Our children were exposed to this, which was heartbreaking as a parent,” said Mr Johnson.

Their efforts to clean did little to stop the foul stench of faeces from settling on everything in the house.

“Even two weeks after you can still just smell it,” Mr Johnson said.

After an inspection, a Bundaberg Regional Council cleaner announced the property was “unlivable” due to the biohazard nature of the sewage and the family’s landlord kindly put them into an Airbnb.

However, after a week they received a termination of their tenancy, and were asked to leave the Airbnb.

The couple and their five children moved in with their parents, and now split their time between their two parents’ homes.

While Michaels Real Estate offered rentals for the family, Mr Johnson said this offer was not genuine.

“I have it in writing that they said ‘we can give you these places to inspect but it comes down to the owners decision,’” Mr Johnson said.

The sewage seeped into the carpets, walls and furniture of the home.

Of the two properties offered to the family, Miss Chapman said neither were suitable for the family long term.

“It was a bit far-fetched, one was all the way out in Moore Park,” she said.

The second property offered was going to cost more than $200 a week more to rent, which for the family of seven was not a realistic option.

After reaching out to the council for further help, support and information they were told on July 12, that the situation was “under investigation”.

The family says the council has not reached out or offered a concrete timeline for the investigation and has shown very little support or sympathy from the start.

“They came straight in and ripped up all the carpet, and they were going to rip up the cupboards but stopped because it was the owner’s property and they would have to claim it back on insurance.

“But when it came to our furniture they didn’t care,” Miss Chapman said.

The carpets in the house were stripped away, but damage in the walls made the home unlivable.

The damage and toxicity of the sewage meant most of the family possessions had to be thrown away, which meant multiple trips to the council dump.

After reaching out to the council for dump vouchers to dispose of their damaged possessions they were told, “unfortunately we are unable to assist on this occasion”.

Out of desperation, the family approached Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, who secured them an appointment with the Regional Housing Department.

However, the family has said that this has just been another slow and painful process.

After answering some basic questions the family asked about a timeline on receiving an answer to their accommodation crisis and were told “someone will call you back”.

The family is still waiting on an answer from Regional Housing, though Mr Johnson fears his income may impact their chances.

In the heat of the moment the family focused on cleaning and preventing further spread of the sewage, and photos only show a glimpse of the aftermath.

Miss Chapman said the psychological impact of the event had put a strain on the family, with her 13-year-old daughter Illyah Chapman struggling.

“It’s started to hit our eldest (Illyria) because she’s the only girl, and I think she knows what’s going on.

“It’s starting to affect her emotionally,” she said.

The stress of the last month has led to illnesses in other family members, and both Miss Chapman and Mr Johnson were regularly seeing their GP s and counsellors for help.

Mr Johnson is now asking for compensation from the council as it was deemed a council fault that the sewage flooded their home.

The family is seeking $80 for the cost of dumping their personal belongings, $2516.26 for the wages lost in the time taken to rehouse the family, compensation for personal belongings and housing until the family can find a suitable rental property.

With weeks passed since the sewage first entered their home, Mr Johnson has now made steps to gain legal counsel for his compensation claims.

The NewsMail reached out to the council for a comment or a timeline for the family.

“In line with council’s normal practice this matter has been forwarded to its insurer for investigation,” was the answer.