The City of Burnside's March 2026 council meeting saw 157 signatures on a petition to protect the 7.9-acre Boral land at 20 MacBeath Drive from development — that's the Skye/Auldana border where the Hills Face Zone meets residential infrastructure. Council received the petition and is now writing to the Minister for Environment and Water about conservation options. For plumbing, the relevance is indirect but real: any future subdivision or development up there means new sewer and water connections feeding into Auldana's ageing network. Mid-May brought 29mm of rain across two events, and on the steeper blocks along Hermitage Road and Coach Road, that water finds its way into old terracotta joints faster than you'd like. The housing stock here is mostly 1970s to 1990s, with some older places running original earthenware drains that tree roots have been working on for decades. If you're in Auldana and something's backing up or draining slow after the rain, don't wait — call us and a plumber we dispatch will be there same day.
City of Burnside notes
“Petition received with 157 signatures urging Council to purchase or protect the 7.9-acre Hills Face Zone property at 20 MacBeath Drive, Skye, currently owned by Boral Limited (Report No 2026-181, C32026/14113)”
City of Burnside
Any future subdivision here means new sewer and water connections feeding into Auldana's existing network — infrastructure that was sized for 1970s–1990s housing density, not modern infill.
“Council resolved to write to the Minister for Environment and Water and Green Adelaide seeking protection of the cryptic sun-moth habitat and conservation of natural bushland in the Hills Face Zone (C32026/14130, released from confidence 19 March 2026)”
City of Burnside
While conservation is the focus, the resolution confirms the Boral land remains in active discussion — any change in status will affect upstream infrastructure planning for Auldana and Skye.
●bolsteredSource: City of BurnsideUpdated 2026-04-28
Auldana profile
City of Burnside covers eastern Adelaide from the inner suburbs to the Mount Lofty foothills — pre-war sandstone and Federation homes in the older streets, mid-century brick veneer across the main residential areas, and modern infill on larger blocks. Housing stock from the 1920s through 1970s means original galvanised iron supply lines, terracotta sewer pipes, and ageing copper hot water runs are standard. Mature tree canopy across the council area is the primary driver of root intrusion — established gums, figs, and plane trees have had 50-70 years to find every cracked joint in clay and terracotta sewer lines. Foothills terrain creates faster stormwater runoff and puts pressure on ageing pit infrastructure during heavy rain. The council's current capital works program includes traffic treatments and streetscape upgrades that disturb road reserves and expose service connections.
Hermitage Road and Coach Road are where the steepest blocks meet the oldest drainage — 1970s earthenware lines running downhill through reactive clay that moves every wet season. Pellew Avenue and the streets backing onto Auldana Reserve have the opposite problem: flatter grades, poor fall, and stormwater that pools instead of draining. The housing stock is mostly solid brick from the 1970s–1990s, which means copper supply lines approaching 40–50 years and early PVC drains that were good for their time but weren't designed for the root pressure from mature gardens. If you're on a block with established eucalypts or large exotics within 5 metres of the sewer line, root intrusion is a matter of when, not if.
When calls come in: Evening calls dominate in Auldana — families home from work discovering slow drains or no hot water. Winter mornings see a spike when hot water systems that failed overnight get noticed at first shower.
Auldana emergency callouts
Emergency Plumber — Burst pipe — water off, flooding riskAuldana, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Blocked drain — slow or backing upAuldana, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Hot water failure — no heat or pressureAuldana, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Sewer backup — sewage at floor wasteAuldana, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Leaking tap or fitting — urgent repairAuldana, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Gas fitting emergency — isolation requiredAuldana, SA · 30–60 min
Auldana Plumber FAQ
Not immediately — council's still in consultation with the state government about conservation options. But if subdivision proceeds, new sewer and water connections will tie into existing infrastructure that services upper Auldana. That means increased load on mains that were sized for 1970s–1990s density. If you're on the higher blocks near Skye, keep an eye on water pressure and drainage speed over the next 12–18 months. Any changes could signal upstream stress before a formal connection is made.
Gurgling after rain usually means air is being displaced in your drainage system because water isn't flowing freely. In Auldana, the most common cause is partial blockage from root intrusion or sediment buildup in old earthenware or early PVC lines. If it clears within an hour, you're probably okay for now. If it persists, or you notice slow drainage in multiple fixtures, that's a sign the blockage is downstream — possibly in the sewer main connection. A plumber we dispatch can run a camera through and tell you exactly where the restriction is.
Galvanised steel pipes corrode from the inside out, so you won't see rust on the outside until it's too late. Early signs are reduced water pressure at taps furthest from the meter, discoloured water when you first turn on a tap in the morning, and a metallic taste. In Auldana homes built before 1980, these pipes are at end of life. If you're seeing any of these symptoms, get a pressure test and visual inspection done before a pipe bursts inside a wall cavity. Replacement is usually staged — kitchen and bathroom runs first, then laundry.
1980s Auldana homes typically have copper supply lines and early PVC drainage. The copper is now 40+ years old and prone to pinhole leaks at fittings, especially in the clay soil here. Check under sinks and behind toilets for green corrosion staining — that's copper oxide and it means a leak is starting. PVC drains from that era are generally sound, but joints can crack under soil movement. If you've got mature trees within 5 metres of your sewer line, get a camera inspection done — roots find cracks and exploit them fast.
A blocked drain usually clears with pressure — water backs up, you plunge or jet it, and flow returns. A collapsed drain doesn't respond to clearing because the pipe itself has failed. Signs of collapse include recurring blockages in the same location, sinkholes or soft spots in the yard above the drain line, and sewage smell even after clearing. In Auldana, earthenware drains on the steeper blocks are most at risk — soil movement and root pressure crack the pipe, then the clay soil falls into the gap. Only a CCTV inspection can confirm collapse, and a plumber we dispatch can do that on the first visit.
Cold inlet water in May is around 12–14°C compared to 20°C+ in summer. Your storage tank has to work harder to heat the same volume, and if the element or thermostat is marginal, it can't keep up. In Auldana's older homes, storage tanks from the 1990s are now 30+ years old — well past design life. If you're running out of hot water mid-shower, the tank is either undersized for your household or the element is failing. A plumber we dispatch can test the thermostat and element on site and advise whether repair or replacement makes more sense.