Burst pipe sends wall of water into cafes

A burst water pipe at Tauranga's Destiny Church cost two inner-city businesses about $2000 in takings during one of the busiest weekends of the year.

A week out from Christmas, restaurant Bravo and cafe Encore in Mid-City Mall were both evacuated and forced to close their doors during the busy Saturday lunch trade after water started running down the walls.

Jack Hogg, who owns both businesses with wife Nancy, described the scene as a "bit of a disaster all round".

"A water pipe burst in the Destiny Church (situated above the two businesses) and had apparently been going half the night. Water started pouring down the walls and we obviously had to shut down service for about two and a half hours," he said.

Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Len Saben said a water pipe had burst in the ceiling of Destiny Church causing an area about the size of an average bedroom to collapse.

The water rose about 20 to 30mm across a floor area of about 150sq m including an office and creche in the church, he said.

Mr Saben said firefighters channelled the flood waters into bathroom drains both upstairs and downstairs in the restaurant and cafe.

He said the leak was believed to have been caused by old, brittle plumbing.

The flooding was not discovered until the water flowed through the church floor into the cafe and restaurant below, setting off the fire alarm about 11.30am.

Both had to be evacuated, forcing diners outdoors to finish their meals and the electricity and water to be shut off.

Three fire trucks arrived on the scene.

"It was amazing, the water. When we eventually got into the church the water was coming down the stairs. The water had obviously been going for quite a while so you can imagine what happened in Nelson, it's a terrible thing," Mr Hogg said.

The Bay of Plenty Times was unable to reach Destiny Church for comment but its website states it was due to hold a church service at 10am yesterday.

Mr Hogg was unsure if the service went ahead.

"They've had a big clean-up today, I didn't hear them singing away," he said.

While he said the landlord's insurance would cover the cost of the electrician and plumber, Mr Hogg was not holding out hope of compensation for the loss of trade.

"You're really struggling to get compensation for a short time like that. We're just going to have to take it on the chin," he said.

The whole scenario also put a dampener on a talent quest being hosted by Mainstreet Tauranga in Mid-City Mall, Mr Hogg said.

"It was a bit of a fizzer for them as well I think."

He said the flood had caused no permanent damage to either of his premises and Bravo enjoyed a busy Saturday night trade.

"But it was a hell of mess to clean up. We've now got the cleanest floors in Tauranga."