CFA volunteers dissipate the gas with water while the gas company Jemena fixes the leak. 57587
TRAFFIC was diverted and businesses evacuated last week after road workers ruptured a gas main in Yarra Glen.
Construction workers had started on the new roundabout at the Melba Highway and Yarra Glen Healesville Road last Tuesday 30 November when the workers knocked a 50mm hole in a gas main just after noon.
Senior Constable Glen Piper from Yarra Glen police said the workers had been carrying out drainage for the new roundabout when the side of a digger’s bucket fractured the main line.
“There was a fair amount of gas leaking,” he said.
“We closed off the area and the CFA dissipated the leak with water.”
Sen Const Piper said the gas company managed to seal the leak after two and a half hours. “It’s always potentially dangerous, especially with the garage being so close,” he said.
Yarra Glen CFA lieutenant Les King said they had to evacuate JJs Pizza and the United service station to secure the safety of the area.
Mr King said an ambulance had been on notification standby and police blocked the Yarra Glen Healesville Road, where motorists had to detour along Armstrong Grove.
Yarra Glen CFA had four volunteers attend with two trucks, and Coldstream CFA attended with five volunteers and a pumper.
Police attended from Healesville and Yarra Glen.
– Mara Pattison-Sowden
