Police seek sightings of boy before he died

Gore police are appealing for sightings of a young boy before he drowned in the Gore District Council’s wastewater treatment plant last month.

Police would like to hear from any members of the public who may have seen three-yearold Lachlan Jones on Salford St, Gore, between 8.45pm and 9.30pm on Tuesday, January 29.

Lachlan had mousy blonde hair and was wearing a highvisibility vest and shorts.

He was found unresponsive in a pond near Grasslands Rd around 11.15pm the same evening.

Anyone with information that may help police enquiries are urged to contact Gore Police on 03 203 9307.

Earlier this month, the Gore District Council installed extra fencing around the entrance of the oxidation pond where Jones died.

The response came as an investigation by WorkSafe was launched into the death of Lachlan at the council oxidation pond.

Council chief executive Steve Parry said extra fencing and higher gates, about 1.8 metres high, had been installed around the entrance to the pond.

It was done on the assumption Lachlan accessed the pond from the gate area, Parry said.

They were an interim measure until the council received direction or recommendations from either WorkSafe or the coroner, he said.