Concerns about Tallarook’s water mains pressure and a lack of fire hydrant access have prompted Mitchell Shire Council to request a report from Goulburn Valley Water, GVW.
Cr Bill Chisholm raised a notice of motion at last month’s council meeting to investigate Tallarook’s water pressure.
Council will ask GVW to investigate and provide a detailed written report on the planned and future upgrading of Tallarook water supply infrastructure and information relating to water pressure at various sites.
An investigation into the non-functional fire hydrant in front of Tallarook Primary School will also occur in conjunction with GVW and Tallarook Fire Brigade with the objective of possible reinstatement.
Cr Chisholm said the water issues were brought to his attention at a Tallarook Hall meeting following discussions with a fire brigade member.
“He informed me there wasn’t enough pressure in the mains in Tallarook to operate the pop-up sprinklers at the hall and he brought up the additional problems of a lack of a fire hydrant in front of the primary school,” he said.
“The nearest one is, I think, 112 metres and the other is 119 metres from the front of the school and that was the motivation for doing this.
“With summer approaching, water is a critical component of most emergency fire situations.
“Also water is important in a whole host of other situations. I have been informed that owing to the age and type of water mains in some areas of the town, to avoid burst mains, the water authority has deliberately reduced water pressure.
“I am asking that council investigates these claims and seeks a detailed report from GVW as to the current and future plans for upgrading Tallarook’s water supply infrastructure.”
Cr Fiona Stevens congratulated Cr Chisholm for raising the issue.
“It really is important. I mean who knows what the weather is going to be like this summer,” she said.
“We have to make sure our access to water – whether it be fire hydrants or standpipes – we have to make sure they’re all functional and operational because God forbid if they have to be used.”
If water infrastructure is found to be aging, resulting in discrepancies in water pressure or unreliable potable water, council will advocate to GVW and the applicable government minister for improvements.
Council will also advocate for the need for all councils to divest themselves of any financial responsibility for the maintenance of fire plugs as they are water supply infrastructure and should be managed and funded by the relevant authority.
Section 165 of the Water Act 1989 requires councils to meet the costs providing installing, marking and maintaining all fire plugs.
A legislative amendment would be required to remove the responsibility from councils.
The Water Act 1989 also does not require water authorities to ensure water pressure is adequate for firefighting.
“The other point is council is responsible for the maintenance of fire plugs, which aren’t our infrastructure and, in my opinion, should definitely be the responsibility of the relevant authority,” Cr Chisholm said.
Advice received from GVW in March advised the fireplug outside Tallarook Primary School was decommissioned in 1991 and if additional fire plugs were required, it would be at a cost to council.
