| Southern Rural Water has prosecuted another two Werribee South farmers on water offences, bringing its total for the year to four.
Groundwater and Rivers Manager Craig Parker said the corporation has prosecuted about 15 farmers in the Werribee South area each year since a total groundwater use ban was introduced in the area in 2006.
Julian Fragapane of Duncans Road and Marcello Faranda of Whites Road both appeared in the Werribee Magistrates Court on Thursday 8 April.
Mr Fragapane was charged with wrongful taking of water and interfering with Southern Rural Water’s property, and Mr Faranda charged with wrongful taking of water.
The court was told that during a routine meter read in December last year, Southern Rural Water’s field officers found that a bore pump was operating on a property leased by Mr Fragapane, and that the meter was not recording any water being pumped by the bore. Further inspection found the meter had been tampered with so it would not record water use.
In Mr Faranda’s case, the court was told that in December 2009, field officers discovered during a routine meter read that water had been pumped from his bore during the total ban.
Both farmers were without conviction placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond. Mr Fragapane was ordered to pay $2000 to the court fund and costs of $1800 to Southern Rural Water. Mr Faranda was ordered to pay $1000 to the court fund, and $1800 in costs to Southern Rural Water.
Mr Parker said he hoped the prosecutions would remind farmers that there are serious consequences to breaking the total ban on pumping groundwater in the Werribee area.
“The ban is in place for a reason,” he said. “Because groundwater levels are so low after many years of drought, there is a high risk of saltwater flowing back into the aquifer from the bay.
“We rely on bore owners to do the right thing so that future generations can enjoy the benefits of the aquifer.”
Southern Rural Water encourages members of the public to report possible breaches of the Water Act for investigation.
For more information about water licences, please contact Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510.
ENDS.
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