Gembrook
Blocked, burst or leaking in Gembrook?
Blocked drains, burst pipes and leaks in Gembrook, from the old potato paddocks to the township shops, passed to a licensed plumber day and night.
Plumbing in Gembrook
Potato ground and an avenue of oaks
Potato growing became a major industry here because the volcanic soils gave good yields. Deep ground like that holds moisture and moves with the seasons, so drain joints shift over time and trench walls can be soft when a line is dug up.
Through the township, avenue plantings of oak, blackwood and flowering gum run along the main street and beyond it. Mature oaks and blackwoods are likely to send roots into sewer and stormwater joints, so a camera goes down before any relining or digging.
Jobs in Gembrook
Shifting soil and searching roots
Blocked drains
Root intrusion from the avenue oaks and blackwoods through the township.
Pipe relining
A lining for joints opened up by roots, rather than a trench beside the avenue.
CCTV drain inspection
A camera to find joints that have shifted in deep, moist ground.
What it costs: hot water replacement cost, gutter replacement cost, toilet installation cost
Gembrook questions
Spoil from potato land and a heritage township
What happens to soil dug from a trench on old potato land?
It is planned for. Victorian Places records that dieldrin pesticides used on potato crops left some properties unsuitable for grazing beef cattle. Soil from a drain or septic trench on former potato land may carry residues, so how the spoil is handled and where it goes is settled before digging.
Do shops in the old township need a permit for new downpipes?
They may. The Gembrook Commercial Precinct covers much of the original township and is in the heritage overlay. Replacing visible spouting, downpipes or external pipework on a contributory building there may need a council heritage permit first.
Is the hotel treated any differently?
Yes. The Ranges Hotel is heritage listed, and its mature trees are regionally notable. Exterior plumbing work may need a heritage permit, and drains near those trees are checked for roots before any dig.
