SOUTHERN Rural Water has prosecuted a stream of people over the last three years for illegally extracting water from Wyndham’s parched supplies.
The waterway authority launched legal action against 10 people for taking groundwater during a ban at the Werribee Irrigation District area, as well as issuing a number of warnings.
There has been one case at the Werribee River, which is still before the court.
Environmentalists are disgusted as the municipality buckles under a decade long drought.
Werribee is the driest suburb in the outer west recording only 47mm of rainfall during winter.
People can be fined up to $6000 or six months’ imprisonment for a first offence and $12,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment for subsequent offences.
Southern Rural Water spokeswoman Janet Granger-Wilcox said most investigations came from public complaints and any public notification was followed through.
“Groundwater prosecutions are falling, likely due to active compliance activities and improved community education,” she said.
“Summer is the time where water demand is highest; however there have been instances at other times of the year in different systems.”
The authority has issued 75 licences to allow people water access to the Werribee River.
Werribee landowners were warned in July after a farmer received a jail sentence for taking groundwater without a valid licence.
It is believed to be Victoria’s first jail term for an offence under the Water Act.
Western Melbourne Catchments Network chairman Alex Smart said it was shocking the activity was still happening under dire conditions.
He said the Werribee River was highly stressed and drastically low.
“The flow below the diversion wheel is very little…and we have not had any substantial flow for years,” Mr Smart said.
Mr Smart said he was also aware of people who had licences but were not following the tough restrictions. Southern Rural Water announced last week allocation increases for both the Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigation districts.
