Council
10 October, 2024
Council pays for Tivoli’s sewage drama
Bland Shire councillors have unanimously agreed to foot the $25,500 bill for sorting out a faulty sewage system at the Tivoli Theatre.
The saga - which saw problems with sewage drainage in the ladies toilets over an extended period – began in early 2020 when Council started work on upgrades to the Masonic Lodge building, where the Tivoli is now housed.
Those works were part of a grant funded project to develop the West Wyalong community theatre.
But ever since the theatre first pulled back its curtains there have been issues with the drainage in the ladies toilets, with constant backing up and flooding on the floors.
The mystery was investigated in October 2023 and the cause of the problem was found, and you could say it was a plot twist because it appeared to be related to the installation of a sewer line to enable the development of new units in England St.
The plot thickened when it was revealed before the relocation of this sewer main, there were two sewer connections
for the Masonic Lodge building, the main line which was mapped and the second line which fed the
ladies’ toilets, which was unmapped and not obvious. The second line was required as the ladies
toilets would not be able to be connected to the main connection and still achieve fall, as they say in plumbing circles.
When the sewer line was originally relocated the ladies toilet connection was flowing into the blocked off old main which had been working like a tank. The line eventually filled and began to flood into the ladies toilets.
The most effective method of rectifying this system was to reconnect this line into the existing connection, but that also which required a pump due to the difference in heights.
At its December 2023 meeting, Council staff reported the estimated costs would potentially come in at $20,000 and the Council decided to cap any funding at that level.
The final cost was $25,500, including GST, to the West
Wyalong Community Theatre for the expenses incurred in the repair of the sewer.
At the September Council meeting Cllr Tony Lord moved a motion to have the Council pay for the repairs. He was seconded by Cllr Roger Moore and councillors unanimously voted it through.
Cllr Lord said, “it’s one of those things that’s half our fault, so I think it’s absolutely fair we’re funding the expenses. The landscaping seems pretty high though.”
The cost for the landscaping after the work was completed came in at just under $7000.
Read More: West Wyalong
