IT’S fast become our most precious commodity, and now a Taylors Lakes man will have to fork out nearly $5000 after he was caught stealing water and installing his own personal water meter back in February last year.
Max Sereno, from Lawson Court, appeared in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday, and pleaded guilty to theft of water and interfering with a City West Water water meter – charges applicable under the Water Act 1989.
He was fined $2000, ordered to pay $100 compensation to City West Water, and will also have to fork out $2500 in legal costs after the court heard evidence that Mr Sereno removed the standard water meter at the front of his house and replaced it with his own.
City West Water managing director Anne Barker used last week’s court case to issue a warning to residents.
“This case serves as a very timely reminder to the small number of people who do not do the right thing,” she said. It was a crime to steal water and the authority would take action against those who broke the rules.
