Liverpool Street stores angered by TasWater response to double flooding

“This has set us back so far, we just can’t fathom what has happened” – Liverpool Street businesses have been dealt another blow after a second flooding incident on Saturday.

Part of Liverpool Street was closed on Saturday while TasWater repaired a burst water main. Picture: Genevieve Holding

A Hobart CBD business has been devastated by flooding for the second time in three days, sharing its frustration with the state’s water utility company after two separate water mains incidents.

Liverpool Street between Murray and Harrington Street was again flooded early on Saturday morning after a water main burst at around 5am.

This is the second water main issue after another break on Thursday caused widespread damage to businesses along Liverpool Street, closing the road to through traffic and cutting off water supply to 10 stores.

In a statement released on Saturday morning, TasWater Operations Manager South Dario Fernandes said it was alerted at around 5am on Saturday to a burst 150mm water main outside 161 Liverpool Street Hobart.

Flood waters inundated Liverpool Street business Boutique Brows Body & Skin. Picture: supplied.

“Our crews were onsite by 5.20am to shut off the water and begin repairs,” he said.

“About 10 properties along Liverpool Street are now without water while we undertake repairs.

“We expect the repairs to take approximately six hours.”

Shortly after the alert to the burst water main, Tasmania Police shut off the section of Liverpool Street between Harrington and Murray Street to vehicles, asking that pedestrians use caution and follow signage.

However, store owners are venting their issues with the incident management by TasWater, with a staff member from Boutique Brows Body & Skin stating they were “furious at the way this has happened so far”.

“We have tried to speak to the CEO of TasWater, but keep getting put through to a call centre,” they said.

“It’s a disgrace – We were not even notified of the second main burst and that the main salon could not be entered.

Work to repair the burst water main outside Liverpool Street business Boutique Brows Body & Skin. Picture: supplied.

“We only found out about the second main burst on social media.

“This is not how to conduct business, it’s embarrassing.”

The spokesperson said that a fully booked day of appointments at the salon had to be cancelled, resulting in lost wages and a backlog of waitlist appointments to try and cover.

Both the stores main salon and private lounge, which are located next to each other on Liverpool Street, where impacted, but the private lounge taking on almost 100mm of water for two hours.

“So far, we are up to at least $50,000 in damages plus the loss of business as we’ve had to close for two days plus the loss of bookings going forward due to our new space being gone,” the spokesperson said.

“The private lounge, the salon attached to our main salon, was only three months old and we had worked tirelessly for months renovating the space at a great expense.

Water from the burst water main flooded Liverpool Street between Harrington and Murray Street. Picture: supplied.

“It has been totally destroyed and needs a full restoration, nothing can be saved.

“We hired an extra two full-time staff for our private lounge and have another two staff members starting this month taking our full time staff to eight.

“Our main priority is making sure that our team have a space to work, it’s not fair that their livelihoods should be affected.”

Repairs were completed on the burst water main on Saturday, however the Boutique Brows spokesperson said the flooding events had “set us back so far we just can’t fathom what has happened”.