Delay in repairs as home flooded
A SOUTH Burnett resident was left in a soggy situation for more than two hours while emergency water workers travelled more than 80km to help.
Toowoomba council workers were tasked to Yarraman on June 10, travelling 80km to the outskirts of the region’s district to turn off a busted water pipe.
Toowoomba Regional Council confirmed workers travelled from Goombungee to Yarraman after an elderly woman’s home was flooded by a burst water main.
After waking Thursday to find a damaged pipe spurting water “12 feet into the air” on George St in Yarraman, resident Cynthia Holzberger said she waited hours for council workers to turn off the water as it seeped into her home.
“It’s seeped in underneath the wall and came into the kitchen and into our dining area,” Ms Holzberger said.
“I got out at seven this morning, our yard wasn’t a swimming pool at that stage, but it took them two and a half hours to get here and turn it off.
“Why haven’t we got someone here in Yarraman that can turn water off if there’s a problem. They came from Goombungee to do it.”
TRC’s Water and Wastewater Committee chairwoman Rebecca Vonhoff responded to questions from the South Burnett Times, confirming workers had to make the journey from Goombungee after being made aware of the burst water main about 7.15am.
“Council’s crew was able to turn off the water supply by 9am and repairs to the pipe were completed by 11am,” Ms Vonhoff said.
Ms Holzberger was unsure of just how much damage the water had done when she spoke to the South Burnett Times.
“How much it will cost I don’t know, because it’s basically gone into the kitchen, under these cupboards, and a little bit into the dining room,” Ms Holzberger said.
“It’s just worrying, I suppose. Because then you’ve got to worry about insurance claims and things like that.”