COMPANY ‘MINED ILLEGALLY FOR 15 YEARS’

A COMPANY accused of illegally mining water in the Gold Coast Hinterland for 15 years has been encouraged to apply for a legal permit.

Gold Coast City Council documents show Consolidated Water Pty Ltd has not been fined or otherwise penalised despite taking water from 3552 Nerang Murwillumbah Rd, Natural Bridge without approval since as far back as 2005.

A council spokeswoman could not say how much had been extracted before the council stepped in.

The spokeswoman confirmed Consolidated Water was asked to submit a development application.

The council was expected to decide on a material change of use application this month.

The directors of Consolidated Water Pty Ltd are Leanne and Michelle Catelan, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). They are the daughters of late property mogul Ray Catelan.

Consolidated Water is headquartered at Clayfield, while the Catelans are listed as residing at Innisfail.

Ceris Ash, from Springbrook Wildlife Appreciation Group, is an opponent of extraction and was the resident who complained to the council about the water mining. She said water “should be flowing into world heritage rainforest not into plastic bottles”.

Ms Ash raised concerns about excessive movements of trucks.

Consolidated Water states it could “supply up to 85,500L per day when bore levels are stable and there is sufficient rain”.

Leanne and Michelle Catelan were phoned for comment through their respective workplaces. The Bulletin was told they were not available.

Attempts were also made to contact Consolidated Water through its surveyor, Bennett & Francis, but requests for comment went unanswered.