Under ground drillers working on behalf of subcontractors for Optus went through the road and hit the 250 water main pipe while installing a fibre optic cable.

A resident of Watson Avenue said that she was unaware of how the damage had occurred.

“We weren’t told what had happened, I came home and I couldn’t enter the street at all as there was water all across the road,” she said. 

The flood lifted a significant section of road that will need to be replaced once the water main is fixed.

There is a large pit in the left hand side of the road where the water main burst that blocks access to the street from Rockvale Road.

Water flowed from the ruptured water main onto the road and adjoining streets and flooded the yard of the property on the corner of Rockvale Road and Watson Avenue.

It is not known whether there was internal damage to the house but there is significant water damage to the front yard.

An Armidale Regional Council spokeswoman said the crew were quick to respond to the ruptured pipe and stop the flow of water.

“A Council crew has fixed the water main and are currently working to rectify the damage to the road,” the spokeswoman said.

Optus is currently working with the Armidale Regional Council to investigate the damage.

A spokeswoman for Optus said Council had been notified as soon as the incident occurred and a crew was onsite within an hour to assist with the repair of the water main and surrounding roads.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this incident,” the spokeswoman said.

Council is unable to estimate the cost of the damage until the road is fixed.

It is understood they will not foot the bill for the damage.