UPDATE: Friday 21 August 2026
What has happened
Unitywater crews have been in your area responding to water pipe breaks over the past month. We now know that these breaks were the result of a pressure spine in the system that caused some fractures in section of pipe.
What we have already done
After repairing the initial breaks, our crews commenced controlled releases of water from fire hydrants, and deployed sensors in the area, allowing us to manage pressure in the system while we conducted some testing on the pipe. Meanwhile, our network engineering team started to configure a more permanent solution. On Tuesday 11 August we installed a pressure-reducing valve to manage pressure in the network and minimise the likelihood of additional breaks.
Unfortunately, overnight on Wednesday 19 August we experienced an additional water main break impacting properties on Kookaburra Crescent. Our crews repaired the pipe, and water was back on within 2.5 hours.
What you can expect to see next
With other management measures not being successful, we will now urgently replace the whole water pipe along Kookaburra Crescent, Dove Court and parts of Bluebird Parade.
A team of engineers have reviewed options for this and you may see our crews on site over the next few days as we finalise our plans – we will provide another update once this is confirmed. The first step in this process will be to install a temporary overland bypass (an above-ground pipeline system that allows us to make sure your water supply continues while we remove the old pipe and replace it with a new one).
We’ll have senior representatives on site on the morning of Monday 24 August to speak with you and explain what we’re doing next.
We thank you again for your patience while we finalise this permanent solution.
UPDATE: Thursday 20 August 2026
Overnight on Wednesday 19 August, we experienced an additional water main break impacting properties on Kookaburra Crescent. Our crews repaired the pipe, and water was back on within 2.5 hours.
A team of engineers has been on site investigating options for a permanent solution, and residents may see Unitywater team members or our contractors on site over the next few days.
On Tuesday 11 August, we completed the installation of a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) to help manage the network. To further minimise the risk of breaks and interruptions for customers, our network operators may adjust the water pressure from time to time over the coming days. Residents may notice reduced pressure, but it will remain within our service standards.
We will be in direct contact with impacted customers to share more information about the permanent solution as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Tuesday 11 August 2026
We’ve continued to experience further water main breaks as recently as this morning (11 August) and we apologise for the ongoing nature of these issues. We understand it’s frustrating and it’s not the service we strive to provide.
The hydrants we’ve been using to reduce the likelihood of breaks has been helping and a dedicated engineering team has been working to determine the options here to resolve the current issues and reduce the risk of any further pipe breaks.
The water supply network in this area is ageing, between 40 – 50 years old. Due to the proximity to the ocean, corrosion has also had an impact on the infrastructure in this area over the years. The long-term solution is to replace the pipes in this area. It’s an expensive and disruptive option but given the recent issues we are looking to fast-track these works.
The mid-term solution, as we’ve communicated with residents, is to install a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) which will lower the pressure of the water from the network coming into Kookaburra Crescent, Dove Court, Bluebird Parade, Quail Court, Finch Court and Peacock Crescent. You are unlikely to notice a significant difference in your day-to-day water use, and water pressure will remain comfortably within our service standards. These works will take place today (Tuesday 11 August).
While the PRV installation works take place, we will need to turn off the water to some properties in Kookaburra Crescent, Bluebird Parade, Peacock Crescent, Finch Court, Quail Court and Thunderbird Drive from 2pm – 5pm. We have been door-knocking and explaining the situation to residents and we’re providing bottled water to impacted residents.
UPDATE: Friday 7 August 2026
Following recent repairs to water main breaks on Kookaburra Crescent, we gradually returned the network to normal operating conditions and closed two hydrants which we had been distributing controlled water flows to manage flow and pressure within the network. Unfortunately, another water main break has occurred in Dove Court.
To reduce the likelihood of further breaks and maintain water supply to residents, we have reinstated controlled water releases from two new hydrants in the area. This temporary measure helps manage pressure within the network while our crews and engineers investigate and implement a more permanent solution.
The hydrants will remain in operation over the weekend, and residents may see or hear some water movement nearby, as well as experience slight fluctuations in water flow from their taps.
Next week, our crews will install a Pressure Reducing Valve, which will allow us to remove the hydrants while maintaining water supply as we continue to engineer a permanent solution.
We appreciate your patience and understanding and will provide further updates on this page.
UPDATE: Thursday 6 August 2026
We have been responding to water main breaks in Kookaburra Crescent and surrounding streets, which have caused water outages to some customers.
To ensure continued water supply to residents while we investigate the cause of the breaks, we have been using hydrants in the area to allow a controlled release of water into the stormwater drain to manage pressure fluctuations within the system. This minimises the potential of further breaks or interruptions to residents’ water supply and environmental impacts.
We are prioritising water supply to our customers while we fix the network as quickly and safely as possible.
We thank you for your patience and will list further updates on this page.
UPDATE: Friday 31 July 2026
We are responding to water main breaks in Kookaburra Crescent, which have caused water outages to customers in this street.
To ensure continued water supply to residents while we investigate the cause of the breaks, we have turned on two hydrants in the area to allow a controlled release of water into the storm water drain to manage pressure fluctuations within the system. This minimises the potential of further breaks or interruptions to Kookaburra Crescent residents’ water supply and environmental impacts.
We are prioritising water supply to our customers while we fix the network as quickly and safely as possible. This work will continue over the weekend and into next week.
We thank you for your patience and will list further updates on this page.
