The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) has scaled down plans for 15 new test bores and one observation bore in the area, announcing last month that it would sink only one monitoring bore in the Moresby Hill Road area.

But the planning approval and tender design process is continuing, together with the acquisition of two properties, to the point where the State Government will be able to draw on water from the borefield for Sydney in emergencies.

Mr Piccoli and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward this week visited John Whatman's dairy farm at Kirkland Road, where the SCA hopes to acquire land for a production bore.

The proposed production bore site is not far from Mr Whatman's existing bore, which was sunk to provide water for the farm but it is currently capped.

"They tell you on one hand that [the borefield] is finished and, on the other hand, that they are putting in another 15 production bores," Mr Whatman said.

"They are going ahead with land acquisition and power to the bores and setting up, so in reality the borefield is ready to go, whether it's in two years, five years or 20 years."

Mr Whatman has been told that his bore would be filled in if the SCA production bore went ahead, leaving him dependent on the SCA bore for water.

The water level in the farm bore dropped about seven metres during test pumping and the Whatmans are concerned about the effect of a full-scale production bore on farm springs and springs on neighbouring properties.

The proposed bore site is about 200 metres from the headwaters of the Nepean River. Neighbours Michael Yabsley and Ken Baxter also met with Mr Piccoli and Ms Goward on Monday.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Wednesday, July 23

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