‘Hands off our bore’

By Elizabeth Lillis
CARDINIA Shire mayor Kate Lempriere is concerned a water bore in Lang Lang will be reopened and water sold to the commercial market for use in swimming pools and on golf courses rather than being made available to droughtaffected farmers in the region.
Cr Lempriere has raised the concern in a letter to Water Minister John Thwaites following South East Water, the water supplier for the region, expressing interest in tapping the supply.
With drought conditions affecting the southern rural areas of the Cardinia Shire, interest in new sources of water has increased.
Lang Lang residents expressed interest in using the bore in an article appearing in this month’s edition of Lang Lang Traders’ Association newsletter.
The Lang Lang bore is to the east of Lang Lang township on Westernport Road near Pioneer Road and the existing water reservoir.
Lang Lang resident Clem Jones said he recently called South East Water to find out whether the bore was to be opened for local use.
“I called them as a concerned local citizen, wanting to suggest that if the bore was reinstated it could be used by the farmers for watering their stock,” he said.
Mr Jones, a resident of Lang Lang for 51 years, said an officer from South East Water told him the company was already considering reopening the bore.
“It was good news to hear, but I don’t know what has happened since,” he said.
South East Water spokesman Luke Enright confirmed yesterday (Tuesday) that the supplier was looking at the feasibility of providing water from Lang Lang to its customers.
South East Water did not indicate what type of customers would be offered water from the supply.
Western Port Ward councillor Doug Hamilton said he, along with council engineering staff, met with representatives of South East Water on Monday.
“I explained to them that farmers were experiencing drought conditions and were applying for an exceptional circumstances grant,” Cr Hamilton said.
Cr Hamilton said he did not want the issue to become political, but wanted to ensure locals were not disadvantaged by the supply being reopened.
Mr Enright said South East Water was working in consultation with Cardinia Shire Council.
Cr Lempriere said there was no way she could in good conscience tolerate South East Water accessing water from Lang Lang to be used to gain profit in a manner such as to fill swimming pools and water golf courses.
Cr Hamilton said the council would need to issue a planning permit for works and equipment associated with opening the bore.