It is a list of issues impacting the community of Tinonee in recent months and this week MidCoast Council acted to explain the cause and actions taken by staff to try to prevent further incidents.

In response to questions from the Manning River Times, MidCoast Council revealed that “council has two pressure reducing valves that operate to protect homes in Tinonee from high water pressure. One experienced a failure in October, and the other failed last week.”

“The cause of the problem was related to ageing pipework that regulates the operation of the pressure reducing valves. The pipework has been replaced,” a MidCoast Council spokesperson said.

“High pressure is a necessary feature of the system since it was first constructed in the 1960’s to allow water to be distributed, with pressure reducing valves used as the designed protective measure for Tinonee.

“We have undertaken upgrades of each pressure reducing valve as a short term measure, and have commenced an engineering investigation to examine the costs to reconfigure the system so that pressure reducing valves might not be required. Such options are likely to be longer term and be relatively expensive.

“Tinonee is connected to our main southern distribution system for the Manning Water Supply, which pumps water from Bootawa Dam over hilly terrain to reach Hallidays Point, Forster/Tuncurry and Pacific Palms. High pressure is necessary to pump water over the hills.

“We have an annual spend of between $1 million and $5 million each financial year to replacing ageing and failing water mains.

“I’m aware that a number of households will make claims. Council will reimburse costs based on receipts for repairs. Council is committed to resolving these claims quickly.”

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