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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 11 March 2009 NSW WATER METER TAMPERING CONVICTION A FIRST The NSW Department of Water and Energy has welcomed the conviction of a local Murrumbidgee man in Griffith Local Court for tampering with a water meter.
“This is the first meter tampering conviction to be made under the Water Management Act 2000,” said the Department’s Water Legal and Compliance Executive Director, Tim Holden.
Griffith Local Court imposed a fine of $5,000.00 on Mr Benjamin Ovenden, an employee of Vernaville Pty Ltd for interfering with a water meter at Carrathool. Mr Ovenden was also ordered by the Court to pay the Department of Water and Energy’s legal costs of $800.00 and court costs of $73.00.
In April 2008 Mr Ovenden intentionally tampered with a bore meter so it didn’t record the volume of water being pumped.
“Water meter tampering and water theft will not be tolerated by the NSW Government,” Mr Holden said.
“This decision shows that if you break the law you could face hefty fines and be named like Mr Ovenden.”
In handing down his decision the Griffith Local Court Magistrate noted that water is the lifeblood of the community and that this offence goes to the heart of the community.
Mr Holden said he understood that the continuing drought had placed many NSW irrigators under immense stress, but that there was no excuse for intentionally breaking the law.
“Meter tampering impacts on your neighbours, broader community and the environment, and is particularly bad during periods of drought when our irrigators and river systems are already stressed,” he said.
“Breaking the law is not the answer – the NSW Government is monitoring water use closely and will come down hard on people who intentionally break the law.”
“Mr Ovenden was lucky that the tough new compliance laws had not commenced when he committed this offence”, Mr Holden said. “Under the new water compliance laws, the offence of meter tampering has a maximum fine of up to $1.1 million and imprisonment for up to two years for individuals, with even stronger penalties for Corporations.“
To confidentially report suspected illegal water activities, contact the NSW Department of Water and Energy via free call 1800 633 362 or email watercompliance@dwe.nsw.gov.au
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