BUSINESS owners along Yambil Street  are unlikely to see the pipes responsible for Friday’s spectacular burst replaced in the near future despite being high on council’s list of priorities.

The pipe, which burst around 1pm, caused traffic chaos for motorist and saw a section of Yambil Street closed until 4.30pm as maintenance crews hurried to repair the pipe.

Griffith is no stranger to burst water mains with the pipes on Wakadan Street currently being replaced following a number of burst last year. Many of the pipes in Griffith’s water reticulation system are original cast iron pipes and date back to the 1930’s.

While Friday’s burst was likely caused by mounting pressure from the current work on Wakaden Street council stressed Friday’s burst was unavoidable with the corroded pipe giving way in a weak spot. 

“Unfortunately there will always be areas of weakness that may burst and council has allocated funds to deal with maintenance and emergency issues,” Griffith City Council's Director of Utilities Graham Gordon said.

Under the Asset Management Plan there is an allocated budget for repairs to water mains and for the installation of new pipes, however council said replacing Griffith's aging infrastructure is a case of time and efficiency.

“Yambil Street is a priority for [council] in regards to the visual look and upgrade of above and underground infrastructure,”Mr Gordon said.

“In order to optimise funding and coordinate all works required for the CBD upgrade of Yambil Street the water main replacement is waiting for the final strategy.”

Mayor John Dal Broi confirmed the replacement of the pipes is programmed and budgeted for, but unlikely to be implemented over the next year during to waiting for the CBD Strategy.

"We want to do things properly and efficiently with as minimal disturbance as possible, this requires more planning and council will coordinate the best plan of action to ensure the pipes are replaced and work is carried out for the CBD strategy concurrently," Cr Dal Broi said.