A Shepparton man has faced court over water theft and tampering with Goulburn-Murray Water equipment.
The man was charged with unauthorised taking and using of water, and interfering with the property of an authority.
He did not appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court for his matter and it was heard in his absence.
Goulburn-Murray Water started the prosecution after discovering both a regulator and meter outlet had been switched from automatic mode into local mode, subsequently allowing water to be rerouted without a water order being placed with the authority.
The manipulation of the regulator triggered an alarm, leading to G-MW distribution staff inspecting the site.
The staff found the water, which was unauthorised and unmetered, was being diverted to two neighbouring paddocks.
The man was fined $2500.
Outside court, Goulburn-Murray Water water delivery services general manager Warren Blyth said water theft was a serious offence.
“G-MW has a zero-tolerance approach to water theft, which provides equity of access to limited water resources and protects those who are doing the right thing,” he said.
“It is important to plan ahead and have month to month and seasonal plans for your water needs and make sure you keep a positive balance in your water allocation account.”