By Tyler Wright
The Kallista Mechanics Institute Hall has been left without running water for eight days, putting an already financially stretched management committee in an even tighter spot.
The hall at 6 Tom Roberts Road is owned by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and managed by a volunteer management team, who leases the venue to Yarra Ranges Council.
After water supply was cut off due to a leak on Monday 6 February, commitee member Chris Job contacted DEECA, Yarra Valley Water and Yarra Ranges Council to establish who was reponsible for the repair, with running water being restored on Tuesday 14 February.
Mr Job said the committee was in two minds about shutting the venue down, with those attending classes advised to use the toilets at Grants Picnic Ground in Sherbrooke.
“We said ‘do we reduce the rent or the fee they’re paying?’ but we rely on that fee. We hardly have anyone in the hall nowadays compared to what we used to… so we need the money, too,” Mr Job said.
“We thought ‘all right, do we get a portable toilet, put it on site?’
“It was like $400 a week…we can’t afford to pay that.”
“We get $150 a week only, unless we have weekend bookings.”
Mr Job said Yarra Valley Water initially responded quickly to the leak, but denied responsibility because the leak was via a connection on a fire service pipe located in the road.
“We shouldn’t even be involved at all. It just should be done in the background,” he said.
“The government agencies should be talking to each other, and they’re not.”
A DEECA spokesperson said water was restored to the Kallista Mechanics Hall and nearby fire station on Tuesday 14 February.
“Given these are important community buildings, we’re working with Yarra Valley Water to fix the fire service fault as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said.
“Yarra Valley Water attended the buildings on Monday 7 February and confirmed a fault with the fire service at the building, which had caused a leak. Building owners have responsibility for fire service at properties and we contacted the Council as it leases the property.”
