Surrey Hills BurgerBurger restaurant flooded during intense storm

A popular Surrey Hills burger restaurant has been flooded with muddy water, with reports nearby drains had been covered with mats during level crossing removal works.

A Surrey Hills burger restaurant has been flooded during an intense storm, with reports mats placed over drains during nearby level crossing works contributed to the muddy mess.

BurgerBurger owner Nesh Rakhra said rain hit the area about 8.45am Thursday during the short and intense storm that lashed Melbourne.

Staff at the Union Rd business arrived about 10am and called Mr Rakhra to let him know the store had been flooded with muddy water.

The store backs onto level crossing works, and Mr Rakhra said workers from the project had placed mats along the street to stop mud getting onto the footpath, but the preventative measures also covered the drains.

Video shows a mat placed on top of a drain.

“They had put all preventative measures along the street to stop mud getting on the sidewalk like bamboo mats and some of the mats also covered up the storm water drains,” he said.

“When the downpour came, it was so quick and sudden, a lot of the loose dirt was coming from the level crossing project, and the water didn’t have anywhere to go so it just built up onto the sidewalk and seeped into all our businesses.”

Mr Rakhra said he had to close his business for most of the day to clean up the thick and sludgy mud.

“We’ve never had flooding in our shop before and we’ve had plenty of rain,” he said.

“When I rang the level crossing authority they said it was an abnormal event.

“But I said it’s not an abnormal event we have rains all the time.”

An Instagram story posted by Steam Coffee Co showing the flooding in Union Rd.

An LXRP spokesperson said it was doing all it could to help local traders and residents impacted to assist in the clean-up after the flash flooding.

Crews are working to inspect local drainage pits to help with cleaning any debris as a result of the significant rain event.

Construction crews are working around the clock to remove the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert crossings, with work expected to be complete by May.

Mr Rakhra said it had been a really challenging time for local traders while work took place.

“On a day-to-day basis we don’t know what it will be like (in terms of how many customers will come in),” he said.

“There is very limited access to the area.

“Tradies from the project have been great coming in and supporting us but (the works) have definitely had an impact on the amount of customers dining in.”

Mr Rakhra said he would like to see compensation for local businesses.

More than 2000 people have signed a petition calling for the LXRP to take urgent action to address the financial hardships caused by the project.

The LXRP said while compensation was not available to traders, it had a number of initiatives to support during the construction blitz including a significant “Shop and Save” campaign.