PERTH Hills water crisis group is still seeking answers for the water pressure and outage issues in Chidlow and Wooroloo after the state election and the government’s caretaker mode left their future in limbo.

A showerhead that won’t run after work on a 40-degree day, sputtering reticulation systems that means resorting to watering cans and out-of-pocket expenses for water tanks and pump systems to fix pressure issues that won’t be reimbursed.

These are just some of the water stories that have come out of Chidlow in the past months as more households have discovered their experiences were being shared by other households in the hills.

Perth Hills water crisis group member Roberta Selleck said the group was looking out for a water report and response from the new Water Minister, as the group has had no resolution since they first elevated the issue into public discussion.

So far, Water Corporation has continued their on-the-ground work monitoring and investigating complaints about pressure fluctuation and outages in Mundaring.

Liberal Bullwinkel candidate Matt Moran sent a letter to new Water Minister Don Punch on March 30 demanding action on the water supply issues in Chidlow and Wooroloo.

“As highlighted at local community forums I attended in February, local residents, businesses and farmers remain in limbo,” he said.

“Reliable access to water is not a luxury – it is a necessity.

“I am concerned residents have been told the Water Corporation will not be investigating water pressure concerns in Wooroloo anymore.”

Wooroloo residents received a letter from Water Corporation indicating they would not be resolving the area’s low pressure issues but would put in place non-standard service agreements that abrogated responsibility for the lack of resolution as reported in Water Corp meets with Chidlow residents.

Wooroloo resident Des Barker said a pressure reduction valve was installed to reduce burst pipes and just last week, houses up Allen Street and Stanwix Place had no water for a week.

“They’ve put this pressure reduction valve in and the bursts seem to have stopped but the people up Allen and Stanwix had no water – nothing,” he said.

“It’s been a no-brainer right from the start: just replace a bit of pipe.

“We wanted them to re-lay the pipe because we have an asbestos pipe that goes through wet and unstable areas and it blows out of the ground and it’s at the same spot.

“It’s slowly gotten worse up until two years ago we were getting a burst every second week.

“I’ve asked them, ‘Will you put in some new pipe?’ and they’ve dug their heels in and refused.

Mr Barker said it was disheartening that after a long fight to secure reliable water supply in his area, all the efforts were now stonewalled by a non-standard water service agreement.

“It’s a total cop-out,” he said.

“If they did this in Perth, there’d be an absolute uproar but there’s not enough people screaming here.

“They deal with you one-on-one, and no-one knows what the hell is going on.”

Mr Moran’s letter called on Mr Punch to immediately outline a clear and practical plan for Water Corporation to address the water challenges facing the hills.

“You have the money to solve this problem, but your priorities are wrong,” he said.

“I look forward to your prompt response and a firm commitment to secure our water supply in the Perth Hills.”

Mr Moran said it was appalling that residents didn’t have basic access to water when they needed it.

“People should have access to a reliable water supply,” he said.

“Elderly residents should not have to suffer without water for days because of bureaucratic bungling.

“I’m working very closely with Adam Hort to deal with this issue

for local residents.”

Newly elected Kalamunda MLA Adam Hort confirmed he was working closely with Mr Moran.

“We’re just looking at our best option at the moment and partnering with the residents of Chidlow to get ideas,” he said.

“And I appreciate (Mr Punch) is new to the role so perhaps he’s receiving a briefing on the matter so I’m looking forward to working with him on a resolution on this and I would hope that commonsense will prevail,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter whether someone’s in opposition or someone’s in government – I think they’ll be able to see when action is required to make sure that something as basic as access to water is properly delivered.

“I will be an advocate but that doesn’t mean I have to be adversarial, and I look forward to working with the new minister to get a good outcome for the Perth Hills.”