The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley) (15:07): I rise today to talk about two issues in my electorate in Paradise. The first issue, of course, was from last Saturday, where residents were unfortunately awoken by a very severe burst water main in their street at Hamilton Terrace at Paradise. It was absolutely awful stuff. Unfortunately, they have suffered dearly from this burst. Several residents have actually had to move out of their homes. What is devastating in fact is that this is probably the fourth burst, one resident was telling me, that has occurred in some 15 years. Residents have had to move out. There is water damage right throughout the houses. It is absolutely devastating stuff. People have been literally forced to move out, which is very sad for them.
It was absolutely awful stuff. Unfortunately, they have suffered dearly from this burst. Several residents have actually had to move out of their homes. What is devastating in fact is that this is probably the fourth burst, one resident was telling me, that has occurred in some 15 years. Residents have had to move out. There is water damage right throughout the houses. It is absolutely devastating stuff. People have been literally forced to move out, which is very sad for them.
I have since written to the Minister for Water. What I am encouraging the government to sincerely investigate, and I am hoping they do take this on board, is to actually replace the burst water main infrastructure. People are over the bandaid solutions that have occurred along that street. What we now need is a proper, permanent, long-term solution—that is, to continue to significantly upgrade, replace in totality the burst water main and associated parts along that street. People of Hamilton Terrace have just suffered for way too long.
It was devastating to go out in the heat and just smell that stench—that stench that you cannot forget. These people unfortunately now have been inconvenienced. They are out of pocket. We know that insurance covers a little bit, but it never covers the whole lot. As members of parliament, we are sent into this place to do a job, and I am sincerely advocating for my residents along Hamilton Terrace, and I am hoping that the Minister for Water and her team take that on board and do manage to get that infrastructure replaced.
