Fisherman fined
A Melton resident has been prosecuted for fishing illegally in Merrimu Reservoir. The 37-year-old man was charged with fishing last October 9 in a recreational area where fishing is prohibited. The court was told Daniel Cooper had been warned by Southern Rural Water staff on a prior occasion. The magistrate ordered Cooper to pay a $500 fine, with costs, to the sum of $1483 to Southern Rural Water. Water supply west manager Edward Smith said Merrimu was a closed storage because it was the primary source of drinking water for Melton and Bacchus Marsh residents via Western Water, and water quality needed to be safeguarded.
Farmers ‘carry over’ water
Irrigators in Bacchus Marsh and Werribee have carried over their unused water into a new season for the first time. This is the first year farmers in the two areas have carried over unused water from the previous season. In total, Bacchus Marsh District irrigators have carried over 1200 megalitres. Water supply west manager Edward Smith said Southern Rural Water would send out statements to all customers showing the volume of water they have available. He said more water was expected to flow into the reservoirs in winter and spring, which would allow further increased allocations. For more information, call Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510.
