Central Highlands Water (CHW) CEO, Neil Brennan, has told representatives of the Newlyn Reservoir Action Group (NRAG) that he will look at written requests for compensation from residents whose household and commercial appliances have been damaged by corrosion resulting from the effects of reticulated domestic water supplied from the Forest Hill bore.

The Forest Hill bore water, which is very hard (230mg/L CaCO3) and has a high salt content in excess of 430mg/L Total Dissolved Solids, is supplied by CHW to the communities of Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Smeaton and Springmount.

NRAG Chairman, Roger Richardson, and Hon. Secretary, Mrs Leigh Miller, met with Central Highlands Water CEO, Mr Neil Brennan, on 28 March 2001 and submitted the following requests:

• A return to the Newlyn Reservoir - after the installation of a proper filtration system - as the source for the Newlyn & district water supply.
  
• Compensation for those people who have suffered financial loss and/or health problems resulting from the effects of the bore water.

Mrs Miller said, “NRAG committee members will now meet with CHW representatives at the Newlyn Hotel on Wednesday, 11 April 2001, at 9.30am to receive their response, then later meet with the Shadow Minister for Water, Mr Steve McArthur, at 10.15am to discuss the poor quality of the local domestic water supply”.