Allora residents slam Southern Downs Regional Council for failing infrastructure, undrinkable water

Residents of a Southern Downs town have claimed they’ve been forced to buy drinkable water because of the brown sediment coming from their taps, and that they’ve been unable to shower as a result of crumbling infrastructure.

Having spent time living in remote locations in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Darrell Morris has experienced challenges with water quality and difficult roads.

However, those difficulties have been nothing compared to the past three years he has spent in Allora, where he has been forced to buy drinking water for himself and his two kids, been unable to shower due to lack of water pressure, and forced to swerve across the road to avoid car-damaging potholes.

Residents of Neale St, in the Southern Downs town of Allora, are crying out for answers after their reports of failing water pressure, undrinkable water and unmaintained roads have so-far gone unanswered by council.

A resident of the street for three years, Mr Morris said he’s been forced to buy bottled water as there is “brown sediment” out of tap water and residents are concerned the roads will get so bad “sanitation workers will be unable to pick up rubbish”.

“The showers and taps have no pressure and there are days where my kids can’t have a shower,” the father-of-two said.

Residents of Allora's Neale Ave (red) are 'frustrated' with the state of their water grid and roads (Photo: Google Maps)

“I’ll get water out of the tap and there is brown sediment on the bottom, the water is dirty, it’s frustrating.

“Drinking water and water pressure so my children can bathe is a health issue to a certain extent, it’s a necessity and I’m only two blocks from the main street, not out in the boondocks or anything.”

Mr Morris said the issue was raised after discussion between several of his neighbours, as it was initially believed just to be an issue with the individual house, but he found several other residents were having similar issues.

Often the water will come out of the tap clear, but after sitting there is sediment which has drifted to the bottom.

“My kids come home from school after doing sports and the water will come out dribbling, it’s unfeasible for them to have a shower, I won’t let my kids drink out the tap because I’ve seen what it turns into, so we have to buy water,” Mr Morris said.

Along Neale St there are a plethora of potholes, including this one. (Photo: Supplied)

The roads on the street are also a concern for residents, with potholes so big Mr Morris “has to drive like a rally car to avoid them”.

“I think it’s going to go one day, we’ll have one big storm and it will eat away at the road,” he said.

“I’m worried the trucks that come and collect the wheelie bins will just go off the road one day sooner or later.

“I’ve lived all over the country and overseas, I’ve lived in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and even the water there was drinkable, it’s the first time in my life that the water doesn’t work – when it does – it’s no good to drink.

“I just want drinkable water.”

A Southern Downs Regional Council spokesperson said they had investigated the water main at Neale Ave and was aware that the ageing galvanised line was not sufficiently large enough to supply adequate water pressure.

“Following a review of the water main renewal budget, works to replace the main have been prioritised and are expected to commence in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also confirmed the council was not aware of any reported potholes on the street, but have prioritised a site visit to check out the damage.

The council spokesperson said they appreciated that this concern was brought to their attention so they can assist the community better.

“Council is committed to systematically working across the region to address and upgrade ageing infrastructure, which represents an extensive body of work,” they said.