A MOSS Vale resident has slammed Goulburn Mulwaree Council for failing to consult with her on the proposed route for the Highland Source Project (HSP).
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Sandra Renowden claims the council had acted “quite clandestine” in response to her concerns over several hundred metres of the underground pipeline earmarked to run through her property.
Mrs Renowden said she was “shocked” to hear that, with the council’s endorsement last week, construction of the pipeline was to begin immediately.
“I am not against the project, I have read about Goulburn’s water plight for years, and in my heart of hearts support the solution, but it has to be a fair solution,” Mrs Renowden said.
“I have not been consulted at all by the Goulburn Council so how can they be about to begin building the pipeline?”
Mrs Renowden moved onto the Moss vale property in December with her husband and two children.
The property includes 1600 Oak trees treated to produce truffles - considered a delicacy in fine cuisine and worth more than gold - as well as an extensive underground irrigation system.
“We moved from Sydney for the country lifestyle and this is our investment,” Mrs Renowden said.
“It is a very lucrative crop and I can’t see how they will be able to build the pipeline without destroying a large part of that.
“The trees are only two-and-a-half years old and will take seven to 10 years to produce a crop.”
Adding to Mrs Renowden’s anger was the lack of communication from Council.
She said while it was now clear the previous owner had failed to inform her of the pipeline’s route, her attempts to get answers from Goulburn Mulwaree Council had so far been in vain.
“My solicitor has approached them but they have still failed to give me any direct notification or consultation,” Mrs Renowden said.
Goulburn Council’s water services manager Greg Horvath said Council would eventually consult with all landowners on the proposed route.
“If a pipeline is proposed and negotiated to go on someone’s property there can certainly be a situation where a pipeline is pulled to go around obstacles,” Mr Horvath said.
“While a plan shows the pipeline to be straight, there can certainly be a bit of movement on either side to get around trees and those sort of things.”
Mr Horvath said if a compromise can’t be reached, Council might have no choice but to go against the landowners’ wishes.
“There is a consultation process but I suppose if both parties, being the resident and Council, can’t reach an agreement on that, then I suppose Council still has open to them the compulsory acquisition aspect,” he said.
