Gunnedah Council to pursue water tamperers

Council voted this month to allocate $2000 from the Water Fund to seek legal advice about prosecuting the offences.

Council’s business systems and governance executive manager Colin Formann told councillors at the May meeting that water meters at houses south of the Wandobah Road pump station had been tampered with.

“We do know who the individuals are,” Mr Formann said.

“At this stage, it is only a small number of individuals – there are two. 

“They are residences who have received a warning in the past for the same behaviour. This is the type of action we reluctantly take, but despite efforts to warn and work with these people, the practices continue.”

Houses south of the Wandobah Road pump station have flow restictors installed to all connections to make sure the restricted flow of four litres per minute at the pumping station covers all households in the area.

“If enough water recipients choose to remove or tamper with the fitted restrictors, some of the more elevated properties in the area may experience issues with their water supply,” a report to council said.

“It is extremely disappointing to say the least, to find this kind of behaviour continues to occur despite the clear written warnings.

“All forms of water meter/meter fitting tampering, damage or removal is illegal and attracts substantial penalties under the Local Government Act 1993.”

The report said council could consider pursuing criminal proceedings through the Land and Environment Court.

“A number of our neighbouring councils have reported that they experienced similar incidences and were indeed successful in their prosecutions including recovery of court costs.”

Deputy mayor Gae Swain said she believed council needed to take action.

“It is illegal behaviour that causes problems and it should not be tolerated,” she said.