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Perth's unluckiest property? South Perth 'coffin' now a watery grave

Emma Young
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The residents of 100 Mill Point Road South Perth, living in what was dubbed a "concrete coffin" since being walled in by a high-rise being built next door, have now been evacuated as flooding creates an electrical hazard.

Early last year, residents of the building discovered the building at number 98 Mill Point Road would wall their balconies in, as it was being built right on the boundary, a situation that was an unfortunate and unintended consequence of the new planning scheme that has introduced high-rise to the location. 

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They then discovered they would also be walled in at the back too, now that the old IGA will be demolished to make way for another residential tower, completing the 'coffin' effect. 

But the final blow was still to come: flooding began about three weeks ago. 

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Trucks began pumping water out on Monday and have remained every day in an effort to stop the water reaching the electricity station, but on Friday staff in offices on the ground and first level, and residents on levels two and three, were turfed out.

"Western Power has been assisting the occupiers of the building at 100 Mill Point Road, South Perth to keep the onsite electricity equipment safe," a spokeswoman for the electricity supplier said.

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"As a precaution, we are considering temporarily turning off the electricity supply to the building. Western Power will endeavour to minimise this inconvenience and restore power when it is safe to do so."

There is no official confirmation of where the water is coming from but contractors for Finbar, proponent of the high-rise Aurelia building two doors down at number 94-96, has been pumping water underneath Mill Point Road to its building site opposite, the Civic Heart development.

The pumping, or 'dewatering', appears to have been necessary as groundwater has risen on the Aurelia site, in front of which a sinkhole appeared on Friday morning. 

A spokesman for the Department of Water said the department was aware of the problem in the basement car park and was working with the City of South Perth who were investigating further to fix the problem.

"The Department of Water has issued a dewatering licence for the property next door and the department is satisfied the dewatering contractor is aware of the issue and is investigating it further," he said.

A spokeswoman for Finbar said that there was no evidence to suggest that water egress into the basement of 100 Mill Point Road was in any way caused by construction works at Civic Heart or Aurelia.

The Aurelia project was being constructed by building contractor Hanssen, and the dewatering was being conducted and monitored by credentialed dewatering contractors and managed in accordance with the management plan approved by authorities. 

"Groundwater levels are monitored from six locations in the surrounding area and reported levels are expected. These levels and discharge rates are consistent with the groundwater model developed for the project," she said.

South Perth council was contacted for comment. WAtoday understands Mayor Sue Doherty and the council's chief executive visited the site on Friday. 

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