By Corey Everitt
Lakeside residents have hit out against South East Water and council due to worries over an unwillingness to fully mend damage after a water main failure has allegedly caused sinking on their street and properties.
Everly Circuit, within the estates of Lakeside Pakenham, has been slowly cracking and sinking according to residents, creating pronounced divots along a stretch of the road which had a water main fail more than once, the latest being February 2023.
The sinking affected nearby properties, neighbours Daniel and Augustus have seen their driveways developing significant lips as the concrete has moved it’s own way, their front gardens crack and their nature strips sink so much a layer of topsoil was dumped to bring it level.
The water main failure occurred on the street close to Augustus property, currently South East Water is engaging in works to repair sections in this proximity but the sinking and damage seem to further spread then the immediate area.
“It’s a really busy road, the school is right there,” Daniel said.
“Are we just waiting for a kid to come riding by to fall over and hurt themselves, is it going to take someone seriously injuring themselves here?”
“Or will the road split and open up.”
Daniel has certainly used patience with this matter, it was in March last year when he reached out to Cardinia Shire Council and eventually South East Water to see if the increasing damage was being rectified after watching the road and his property sink over time.
Only recently, almost exactly a year on, has South East Water begun work to reinforce the street and the curbside. However, this comes after a slow and tiresome response and, worryingly, it seems the council and South East do not plan to fully remedy the damage as Daniel and Augustus expected.
“I’m really not happy with the council’s lack of urgency,” Daniel said.
“I just find it frustrating that a local councillor can’t once come out and say I’m going to push this with the council.”
“I’m just fed up, the thing that got me was the topsoil, it just masks the problem.”
Over the correspondence with the council, it emerged recently that there were four specific aims of the work which had just begun. All of them are specified to be out in relation to Augustus’ house only when the damage not only is continuing to affect Daniel’s home, but multiple other properties on the street.
Without forewarning, several properties had topsoil dumped on their nature as part of the works to mend the sinking.
When it comes to the damage to driveways and front gardens, Daniel is worried as he recalls a council worker telling him it’s ‘his responsibility’.
“How can we be responsible, why should I maintain it and waste my money if it’s just going to keep sinking,” he said.
The works which have started are bizarre to Daniel and Augustus as it’s seemingly not the area of the worst damage, in front of Daniel’s property has the most pronounced divot and damage, while more divots seem to be developing further down on either side of the road.
“No idea what exactly this fix was for, they should have ripped up and redone the road,” Daniel said.
“It’s stressful, we pay our rates, we pay them on time, I’ve raised this many times and I’m just done now.”
Toomuc Ward Cr Stephanie Davies has been a part of the correspondence and said she has stopped to see the damage as she lives close by.
“I’ve advocated for the resident for firstly, a detailed investigation by Council, the outcome is that it’s just the South East Water assets to rectify,” Cr Davies said.
“I’ve also made it clear my expectation as a Councillor is that Council staff are regularly following up with South East Water to ensure they fix it, and to communicate that with the resident so he feels supported by his Council – to do what I can to advocate on his behalf.
“One learning I had when I joined Cardinia is that the council staff processes do advocate to other authorities to get the job done for the community benefit – even when it’s not our asset.
“I am trying to facilitate the best level of customer service possible, this one has been on my list for over a year and I am also extremely frustrated.”
South East Water’s General manager Service Delivery, Andrew Forster-Knight said the works were agreed to late last year.
“In February 2023, we responded to a leaking pipe at Everly Circuit, Pakenham,“ they said.
“We immediately conducted emergency works to stop the leak, and completed permanent pipe repairs in May 2023.
“Our crews also reinstated the naturestrip on the eastern side of Everly Circuit, where the failure occurred.
“Following engagement with Cardinia Shire Council, we came to an agreement in November 2023 that we’d undertake additional works to reinstate the naturestrip and the road immediately adjacent to the repair site. We’re completing these works this week.
The council’s general manager Infrastructure and Environment, Peter Benazic said South East Water was contacted after complaints about residual damage not being rectified, the council will be working further with them on the matter.
“We want to assure all residents in the area that Council is cooperating with South East Water to see a suitable outcome is achieved, and as soon as practicable,“ Mr Benazic said.
“We understand how frustrating and slow the process can be when multiple parties are involved, particularly when several assets and services have shared ownership and maintenance responsibility.
“Our Community Infrastructure Services team has been communicating with the resident to ensure they are updated on the matter as new information becomes available.
“Whilst the road pavement was damaged in this situation, Council confirms the road is safe and fit for vehicle use.“
