| A Werribee South vegetable farmer has become the fifth landowner from the area this year to be convicted on water offences.
John Christou appeared before the Werribee Magistrates Court, charged with interfering with a water meter belonging to Southern Rural Water and with taking groundwater during a total ban.
The court was told that during an inspection in December 2009, Southern Rural Water field officers observed that a groundwater bore on a property leased by Mr Christou was discharging water into a dam.
Further inspection of the meter that records groundwater usage showed it had been tampered with and water being pumped into the dam was not recorded.
Mr Christou pleaded guilty to the two charges. He was convicted, placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond, and ordered to pay $500 to the court fund. He was also ordered to pay costs to Southern Rural Water of $2000.
“This is a timely reminder for farmers in the Werribee area that there has been a total ban on using groundwater in their area since 2007,” said Manager Groundwater and Rivers, Craig Parker. “The ban is in place because groundwater levels are so low, there is a risk of saltwater flowing back into the aquifer from the bay.
“We rely on bore owners to do the right thing so that we can protect the water supply for the future.”
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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