7 December 2009
YARRA IRRIGATORS REMINDED TO PLAY BY RULES
- Recent fines for Yarra Valley plant nursery and eastern suburbs golf course
- Water licence conditions key part of looking after rivers and creeks
- Melbourne Water monitoring compliance over summer
Users of Yarra River water for irrigation are being reminded to stick to their licence conditions this summer, following recent prosecutions of a Yarra Valley plant nursery and a golf course in the Kew area for breaches.
In a case heard on 5 November in Ringwood Magistrates Court, Fleming Nurseries pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to unauthorised pumping of water from the Hansen and McCrae Creeks in the Yarra Valley area.
Flemings was fined $16,000 and ordered to pay costs of $30,000. No conviction was recorded by the Court.
Melbourne Water – as caretaker of rivers and creeks across the metro area and beyond – manages around 1,300 water diversion licences held by farms, sports clubs and plant nurseries that access water from the Yarra and its tributaries.
Manager of Diversions, Steve Hosking, said most licence holders stuck to the rules but that the authority would be monitoring compliance closely this summer.
“We understand that many irrigators are facing tough circumstances because of drought and climate change, but the limits around when they can take water from rivers are there for good reasons.
“Our rivers and creeks are doing it tough as well, and it’s critical that we maintain minimum flow levels so their basic health is maintained. It’s a simple case of looking after the ecosystems that look after us,” he added.
“The rain we had in Spring gave waterways a welcome boost, and that helped fill a lot of farm dams in the Yarra catchment. But we’re now moving into what’s likely to be a hot summer and we’re encouraging all irrigators to plan their water needs accordingly.”
Melbourne Water will closely monitor compliance with river rules over summer by looking at data from monitoring stations, random patrols and following up community tip-offs.
In September, the Greenacres Golf Club in Kew was successfully prosecuted in Heidelberg Magistrates Court for unauthorised taking of water from the Yarra River. The Club pleaded guilty and was ordered to contribute $13,250 towards a local revegetation project and pay costs of around $17,000.
Mr Hosking said several other potential breaches were currently under investigation.
Anyone needing to clarify their rights to pump water from waterways can visit melbournewater.com.au or call (03) 13 17 22.
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes - 03 9235 7277 M - 0403 930 846