John Kobelke calls for full report into burst main

15/05/05
The State Government has called for a 'full and thorough' report into Friday's burst water main.
"I spoke to the Water Corporation yesterday and asked them to provide me with an urgent report into all of the matters relating to the cause of this mains failure," the Minister responsible, John Kobelke, said today.
"I have also asked the corporation for a full audit of the major water mains in the Perth metropolitan area to see whether there are any similar circumstances which could lead to the same sort of failure in the future."
Mr Kobelke, who is Minister Assisting the Minister for Water Resources, said it was a freak incident not related to the age of the pipe. The Water Corporation had advised him it could not have been predicted.
However, the investigation would identify any improvements needed in the system.
Mr Kobelke said his advice was that this was not simply a case of a 40-year-old pipe deteriorating and bursting.
It appeared that a poorly designed stormwater drainage system which had flowed around the steel pipe had caused it to prematurely corrode from the outside over a period of time.
"I understand that normal checking and maintenance - which is only practical from inside the below-ground pipe - would not have revealed the damage," Mr Kobelke said.
He encouraged affected homeowners and businesses to call the Water Corporation's 24-hour emergency help line on 13 13 75.
Minister's office: 9222 9211