Wet weather reflares Wulguru’s ‘poonami’ problem despite council countermeasures

Devastated Wulguru residents have again been inundated by raw sewage, despite the council spending millions to rectify the chronic ‘poonami’ problem. Watch the heartbreaking video.

Wiping tears and “gunk” from her eyes, distressed Wulguru resident Brittany Giudes said it wasn’t until day 10 of raw sewage flowing through her house before she reached her breaking point after the suburb’s “poonami” problem reflared again.

The mother-of-four in Burnett Crescent was just one of many Wulguru residents to come forward with complaints about the sewage back-flow problem returning.

Remobilising again, Poonami Army leader Leanne Dobbin reported that she had also heard from affected residents in Wright St, Combe Ct, Stuart Drive, Powell St, Haldane St, Kelvin St, Normandy St, Dommett St, Newton St, and MacFarlane St.

Well aware of the suburb’s chronic sewage back-flow issue, which has lingered like a bad smell for more than three decades, Townsville City Council had hoped that its countermeasures remedied the problem.

The council commissioned a new Wulguru Pump Station in 2023, as part of the $20m stage three of the Southern Suburbs Rising Main Project, and followed it up with a comprehensive smoke testing program identifying sources of rain water inflow or infiltration into the sewerage network through illegal connections and damaged infrastructure.

TCC Water and Resource Recovery general manager Travis Richards praised Wulguru residents for their co-operation with smoke testing in 2023. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Despite these measures, Ms Giudes said it took just 50mm of rain on January 31 before the sewage started backing up, opening up old wounds from two years ago when her house suffered $50,000 worth of sewage damage.

With effluent flowing through her house for 11 days and counting, and her family coming down with illnesses, her insurer warned that the damage bill would probably be even higher this time around.

Brittany Giudes' Wulguru property has had raw sewage and toilet paper flow through for the past 11 days. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Raw sewage bubbling up into Brittany Giudes' property in Wulguru. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“I’m emotionally done … (and) exhausted and feel like we’ve been left in the lurch. On Sunday I totally broke down, like it was my breaking point on day 10. We’ve called the council five times, we’ve done Snap Send Solve and contacted our division leader (Councillor Brady Ellis) and received no responses, no calls back,” Ms Giudes said

“Yesterday I did a post on Facebook, just blasting everyone and within probably 20 minutes of that post, our division leader contacted me and said he’ll be there in 20 minutes.

“He ended up rocking up with the mayor to come see for themselves the issue that we’re having.”

Inside Wulguru resident Brittany Giudes' property, where raw sewage has flowed through for the past 11 days. Picture: Leighton Smith.

After being promised that a council crew would arrive first Monday morning, she said a council worker visited to spray liquid to break down the toilet paper in the sewage, but there was still no sign of the clean up crew on Tuesday morning.

“We’ve asked about being put up in housing because it’s starting to smell in our lounge room. Our three year old has now developed a really bad cough, the one-year-old’s nose is running and she’s starting to get a cough, and I’ve woken up with a flu, and hubby’s sick,” she said.

“We have to have our dogs live inside because they can’t go outside.

Sewage backflow impacted on this Wulguru resident's property. Picture: Supplied.

Sewage backflow impacted on this Wulguru resident's property. Picture: Supplied.

“When we wake up in the mornings, it feels like our eyes are glued shut, just from gunk and stuff. It’s not only impacting our mental health, but it’s now starting to affect our physical health as well.”

Ms Dobbin knew of at least 16 households that had been affected, with residents she spoke with feeling “devastated, angry and so stressed that it’s making them ill”.

“They feel so let down and alone. I have been contacted by residents needing help and not being able to get any help from the council,” Ms Dobbin said.

Poonami Army leader Leanne Dobbin has called for smoke testing to be carried out since 2018. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“Another resident Betty is an elderly lady on Wright St, I managed to save her house by plugging the sewerage drain with a sewer plug, stopping sewage from inundating her house. She also is not able to use her toilet or shower.

“I contacted her to check on how she was, she told me her son had come to pick her up as she was so upset and stressed that she felt ill and scared that she was having another stroke.”

Wulguru resident Sergio Lapico said every time it rained, he felt a deep sense of anxiety, where sleep became “nearly impossible”.

Leanne Dobbin, standing in sewage in her backyard during a previous ‘poonami’. Picture: Evan Morgan

“This has already happened twice in the 13 years I have lived here. Some residents who never faced this issue before, were now dealing with significant sewage overflows in their homes and yards,” Mr Lapico said.

“Despite this, they have received no physical or financial assistance, and from discussions in local groups, it’s clear that many were completely unprepared for this situation,” Mr Lapico said.

He was particularly frustrated by the lack of communication from the council regarding the operationality of the new pump station and progress towards rectifying the sewage problem.

“Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer the consequences. The only response we receive is that the council is ‘waiting for heavy rain to test the system’,” he said.

Brittany Giudes' Wulguru property has had raw sewage and toilet paper flow through for the past 11 days. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“No one should have to live with this constant fear, knowing that their home and everything they hold dear could be destroyed again with the next heavy rainfall.

“Beyond the financial and emotional toll, there is also the practical reality: during these events, we cannot flush toilets or use showers, leaving us with no choice but to use a backyard hose. This is completely unacceptable. Residents deserve a permanent solution.”

Leaders respond to Wulguru’s poonami problem

Dawson MP Andrew Wilcox said on social media that he had received several messages and phone calls from residents who were inundated with raw sewage due to the recent rains.

“I understand this has been previously addressed by council and the issues have lessened to a point, but whether it’s one, two or several houses that are still dealing with sewage coming in, that’s just unacceptable,” Mr Wilcox said.

“I am aware of the situation, I have spoken to council and informed them that I’m prepared to work together towards a plan to have this fixed.”

He urged affected residents to contact him via email: [e-mail].

Wulguru resident Brittany Giudes with the sewage pooling in her backyard. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A Townsville City Council spokesman said in just seven days the city had received comparable amounts of rainfall with the yearly average.

“Townsville received in excess of 1000mm of rain in the seven days from 31 January, given the city’s average yearly rainfall is 1143mm, Townsville’s wastewater network was overwhelmed by the influx of water, resulting in overflows from overflow relief gullies (ORG) at houses and maintenance holes across the city, including in some parts of Wulguru,” the spokesman said.

Townsville's acting mayor Ann-Maree Greaney and Division 10 Councillor Brady Ellis spent Sunday visiting residents in Wulguru and Cungulla experiencing hardship either with sewerage or flooding. Picture: Supplied.

“Council has ongoing operational and capital works activities to maintain, renew and upgrade Townsville wastewater infrastructure.

“In recent years significant improvements have been made to Wulguru’s wastewater network which have resulted in a major reduction of wastewater overflow events during Townsville’s wet seasons, for example in December’s rain event where the region received well over 200mm in 48 hours, council received just one report of wastewater overflow.”

The spokesman said council had received 454 calls from customers for assistance with wastewater-related issues and crews were prioritising and responding.

Originally published as Wet weather reflares Wulguru’s ‘poonami’ problem despite council countermeasures