27 April 2001

The Hon John Thwaites MP
Minister for Planning
Department of Infrastructure
1315 Sturt Street
Ballarat 3350

Dear Minister

1. The Newlyn Reservoir Action Group (NRAG) submits that the application of Central Highlands Water for the issue of two Planning Permits at Tourello enabling them to extract groundwater for general domestic use has far greater ramifications than just the provision of an alternative water supply for the township of Clunes.
2. The region between Newlyn and Ascot/Tourello and the surrounding districts are major agricultural, potato growing and mixed farming areas that rely extensively on groundwater for irrigation purposes.
3. Newlyn Reservoir Action Group was established at a public meeting held in Newlyn on 19 March 2001, to represent those residents in Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Smeaton and Springmount who receive a reticulated domestic water supply provided by Central Highlands Water.
4. The present source of this water supply is groundwater obtained from a series of bores located at Forest Hill, Kingston. The groundwater is of poor domestic quality. It is hard - 230mg/L CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) - and has a high salt content of around 430mg/L Total Dissolved Solids.
   Recent tests show that the level of salts is increasing with Total Dissolved Solids now in the range of 440mg/L - 480mg/L as follows:
• Newlyn 480mg/L
• Broomfield 470mg/L
• Smeaton 460mg/L
• Allendale 450mg/L
• Kingston 450mg/L
• Springmount 440mg/L
5. The excessive hardness and high salt content of this groundwater causes:
• Extensive corrosion and scaling of heating elements in hot water services, jugs, kettles, irons and commercial appliances such as urns, cappuccino machines and dishwashers etc. If scale collects on heating elements it shortens their life and makes appliances less efficient.

• Dripping taps caused by corrosion and/or sediment buildup of tap washers.

• Build-up of salt and/or calcium around taps and inlet & outlet pipes and shower walls and screens.

• Problems with the shower rose getting blocked or corroding off altogether.

• Skin and eye problems resulting from washing, showering & bathing.

• Soaps & detergents don't lather effectively. It can also cause "tide marks" on basins, sinks, baths and toilets.

• A white film and spotting is left on glassware, crockery, cutlery & automobiles after washing.

• And, the water can cause health problems for people on salt limited diets.
These are some of the known problems at present.
6. Newlyn Reservoir Action Group is aware of several bores located near the Central Highlands Water Forest Hill bores that are used for irrigation and which flowed without problems until Central Highlands Water began extracting groundwater from its bores indicating there may be a problem with the sustainability of the groundwater resource. Central Highlands Water has other choices for water sources, whereas many irrigation farmers do not.
7. Before September 1999 the source of the Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Smeaton and Springmount water supply was the Newlyn Reservoir and Newlyn Reservoir Action Group is seeking a return to the Newlyn Reservoir as the source for the regional domestic water supply. CHW records in May 2000 estimate that the initial capital cost of building a water treament plant at Newlyn would be $6,068,000.
8. Newlyn Reservoir is presently the main source of the Clunes domestic water supply. And the initial cost of setting up for groundwater extraction and treatment at Ascot/Tourello is estimated by CHW at $3,273,000.
9. It is our understanding that a large percentage of Clunes residents opposed the process that led to CHW deciding to provide Clunes with groundwater for domestic use, and the groundwater to be extracted from the proposed bores at Tourello may cause the same problems as the groundwater being extracted from the bores at Forest Hill.
10. The switch to groundwater use for domestic purposes is also beginning to have a detrimental effect on tourism and other business ventures in this region and as a consequence is adversely affecting the incomes of some business owners.
11. Newlyn Reservoir Action Group objects to the Central Highlands Water application for the issue of two Planning Permits that would then enable CHW to extract groundwater at Tourello for general domestic use, on the grounds that:

• Groundwater in the Central Highlands region is of poor domestic quality for
  the reasons set out in 4 & 5 above.

• Groundwater in this region would be better used mainly for agricultural purposes.

• Central Highlands Water should upgrade the Newlyn Reservoir by installing
  a water treatment plant and use this surface water for reticulated domestic
  water supplies to this region, including the towns of Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Smeaton, Springmount and Clunes.