A long-term water main problem in Hardy’s Bay has yet to be resolved, sparking tension between local community groups and Central Coast Council.
The replacement of the water main in Araluen Dr, between Heath Rd and the cul-de-sac at the dog track has been an ongoing issue for residents since last year.
Continual digging and patching in the area to rectify the issue has left locals inconvenienced without water and frustrated with the lack of action.
Construction on the replacement of approximately 630 metres of the water main was originally planned to commence in September, 2019, with completion in December, 2019.
But work has been held up over contention on whether the works constitute a “new piece of infrastructure” on an Aboriginal heritage site.
Araluen Dr resident and President of the Hardy’s Bay Residents Group, Adrian Williams, said he was fed up with the breaks and estimated that residents had experienced 22 breaks in the last 18 months.
“We started expressing significant concerns to Council back in July 2019,” Williams said.
“Most of the neighbourhood cannot see how maintenance work for an existing 600-metre water main is ‘new work’.
“This is a maintenance issue of a section of an existing system … they need to replace the asbestos piping with new piping.”
The group says that under clause 80B of the Act, there is a defence of carrying out certain low impact activities on Aboriginal heritage sites without a permit, including the “maintenance of existing utilities such as above or below ground water or sewerage pipelines”.
But Council argues that this is a new piece of infrastructure.
A Council spokesperson said the Council was aware of a number of water main breaks in Araluen Dr over recent years and has prioritised works in the area.
“Pre-construction investigations for the works identified a significant number of Aboriginal heritage sites in the vicinity of the water main renewal works,” the spokesperson said.
“In order to comply with the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) was then required before works could begin.
“This has unfortunately delayed the project.”
Council says it anticipates receiving AHIP approval in early 2021, but with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment currently occupied, a longer timeframe is expected.
More recently, the Hardy’s Bay Residents Group has joined with Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Association (WTKCA) to help lobby Council for answers.
WTKCA president, Mike Allsop, said the group had written to the new Administrator very strongly on this a month ago, but hadn’t received anything back.
“We all respect and support the permit process but, in this case, feel that it is being mis-applied to the detriment of local residents,” Allsop said.
“There is a follow-on effect all around the whole suburb; everyone’s water pressure goes down … it’s just a nightmare.
“We understand works are now being held up by the impact assessment and I think it’s a delaying tactic personally.”
Questions have now been raised about the real reason for the delay, calling into question whether Council has a lack of funding or labour availability for the project.
Council is yet to respond to these new matters.
Maisy Rae