Water access issue resolved after DPN makes a splash
A LOCAL resident turned to Dubbo Photo News for help after a broken pump meant she and eight other elderly residents had no access to an outdoor water source for several weeks.
Despite alerting the Department of Housing’s maintenance team to the issue, it was not until 77-year-old Lorin Maskey wrote to this publication that the issue was acted upon.
In a letter to the editor dated February 7, Ms Maskey explained the inconvenience the lack of outdoor water access was causing her and other residents in the block.
“Since 18 January 21 we have had no water to use outside on our lawn and gardens, to keep my garden alive I have had to resort to filling buckets in my laundry tub then carting them outside to give each plant about a cupful of water,” she wrote.
“Other residents are in their 80’s; I am almost 80.”
Ms Maskey also stated that this was an ongoing problem and that the pumping system “spends more time broken than it does working.”
According to Ms Maskey, the maintenance team had informed her that her issue was “non urgent”.
Upon receiving Ms Maskey’s letter, on February 8 Dubbo Photo News contacted the Department of Housing, asking for clarity around when Ms Maskey’s issue would be rectified and why the problem was not deemed urgent.
The next day, on February 9, a representative from NSW Land and Housing Corporation was in touch with Ms Maskey and maintenance personnel attended the property to diagnose the problem.
A statement from the LAHC media department was also issued to Dubbo Photo News (DPN).
“We were disappointed to learn of this issue and the frustrations Ms Maskey has experienced in having it addressed,” a spokesperson from NSW LAHC said.
“Investigations at the property today have revealed that the pump on the water tank is not working and requires replacement. This would resolve the water supply issue.
“We will keep Ms Maskey informed as the matter progresses.”
DPN was also supplied with background information that explained the LAHC prioritises maintenance according to health and safety concerns and given Ms Maskey’s problem did not pose a risk to tenants and because they still had access to functional taps inside their properties, it was not considered to be urgent.
In late January, Ms Maskey also contacted Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders’ office regarding the matter and was instructed to put the complaint in writing so he could escalate the request.
On February 9, Mr Saunders’ told DPN he had been working with the Department of Housing on the matter since late last year.
“Ms Maskey was invited to write to my office so that I could continue to work with the Department of Housing to resolve the issue, which is exactly what we are doing,” he said.
“I would like to thank the team at the Department of Housing for working collaboratively with my office to resolve this matter.”
A few days later, on February 12, the NSW LAHC confirmed that the replacement pump would be installed by the end of the month.
With a plan and timeframe now in place, Ms Maskey is relieved resolution has been reached, but is “very disappointed” at how long it took for action to be taken.
She also questioned whether the promised works will be a long-term solution.
“I know that this will probably fix it to get us through this period, but how long will this pump last?” she asked.
“This seems to happen every couple of years.”
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