Strathmerton property owners: (From left) Andrew Cooper, candidate for Nicholls Stephen Brooks, Glenn Davies, Natasha Davies and (seated) Leon Payne.
Photo by
Geoff Adams
Some Strathmerton landholders are objecting to the proposed drilling of a new water bore neighbouring their properties and within a kilometre of town water users.
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A Queensland-based company, Murray Valley Land Pty Ltd, is proposing to draw up to 1500Ml from the deep lead bore, just north of the town.
It intends to transfer licensed groundwater from other properties in the area to feed a new irrigation development between Bourchier and Mywee Rds.
The objectors are concerned the size of the proposed extraction might draw down the water level and prevent them from accessing drinking and stock water which they rely on.
Concerned: Strathmerton farmer Leon Payne is worried that a new bore will affect his property's water supply.
Photo by
geoff adams
Mixed farmer Leon Payne said he was worried that if the groundwater was over-extracted he would be left without any stock and domestic water from the bore on his 129 hectare property.
“This is right on the edge of town where there are about 40 to 50 houses drawing water from bores,” he said.
The adjoining landholders are concerned that while they have been told about the proposal, other residents who have bores in the nearby town were not aware of what was happening.
Neighbours worried about water: The property being developed for a large irrigation farm.
Photo by
geoff adams
They were also annoyed that the notice was delivered just prior to the Christmas and new year period, when many offices were closed.
Andrew Cooper, who lives on Bourchier Rd near the development, said the water extraction would adversely affect existing users as the surrounding areas would not sustain enough water for existing stock and domestic use.
“In the worst case, we may have to drill down further to sustain our properties,” he said.
Mr Cooper said he was not against development, but he didn’t want to see the community potentially at risk from a water deficit.
Natasha Davies and her husband Glenn have a small holding on Bourchier Rd, but are entirely dependant on bore water for drinking and household use.
“We have no raw water tanks,” Mrs Davies said.
The landholders argued that the developers should be drawing water from the Goulburn-Murray Water channel that runs through the property.
At hand: This channel bisects the development property at Strathmerton.
Photo by
geoff adams
The landholders have sought the help of Liberal candidate for Nicholls, Stephen Brooks, who said it wasn’t just an issue for the immediate neighbours of the bore, but for the wider Strathmerton town.
"It is important for concerned community members to know the process G-MW will go through, and that any risk of shallow bores losing access to water be considered when G-MW are making their decisions," he said.
"I will remain in close contact with locals on this issue to ensure that community concerns are given the fair voice they deserve and expect.’’
Goulburn-Murray Water groundwater and streams manager Matthew Pethybridge said the applicants were obliged to notify their immediate neighbours, and to advertise the potential bore in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks.
Under the Water Act the application must meet the prescriptions within the Katunga Water Supply Protection Area Groundwater Management Plan, which prescribes area intensity limits, zone limits and trading rules.
“We undertake a desktop hydrological assessment to determine what impact the bore would potentially have on the aquifer, the environment and other authorised water users,” Mr Pethybridge said.
“Our local diversions inspector will also undertake a field inspection.”
Time frames for a decision depend upon the complexity of the assessment required and may vary between one and six months.
Submissions on the application will be accepted until Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Murray Valley Land could not be contacted for comment.
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