Supermarket fixes leaking stormwater pipe

A leaking stormwater pipe at a Umina supermarket has been repaired, according to the store manager.

Woolworths Umina manager Mr Darren Stanbury said heavy rain mid-month in January had caused the pipe to spring a leak.

"Following heavy rain in January we identified a small leak in a stormwater pipe located in our Umina Woolworths carpark.

"This leak has since been repaired.

"We apologise for the inconvenience to our customers during this time," Mr Stanbury said.

"At Woolworths, we are constantly reviewing our supermarkets to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience for our customers."

He said odour in the carpark had been linked to the supermarket's grease traps.

Mr Stanbury said Woolworths' facilities management team had been informed of the issue and planning to improve ventilation in the carpark was underway.

However, Mr Stanbury denied social media reports that there was a sewage leak in the carpark.

He said there were no sewerage pipes in the carpark.

On January 17, David Harvey posted a comment on social media after an unknown liquid leaked onto him from an overhead pipe in the Woolworths Umina underground carpark.

Believing the liquid to be sewage, Mr Harvey took photos of the pipe, which showed it leaking a brown liquid, and posted them to social media with a warning to shoppers about the carpark.

Mr Harvey's post has since been shared and commented on by more than 180 concerned shoppers.

Several people commented that the carpark often had a smell of sewage, while others suggested Mr Harvey report what happened to store management, Central Coast Council and the NSW Department of Health.

SOURCE:

Social media, 17 Jan 2020

David Harvey, Umina

Media statement, 29 Jan 2020

David Stanbury, Woolworths Umina

Photos: David Harvey