Connecting mid year
Gippsland Water’s plans to connect the Warragul and Moe water supply networks are on track for completion mid-year.
Crews are now busy with the final stage of the project of cleaning the water main which will connect the two systems and testing pumps in preparation for commissioning.
Gippsland Water managing director Sarah Cumming said there will be extra activity in and around Yarragon and Trafalgar over the coming weeks as the water main is cleaned.
“Our crews started cleaning the main at the Warragul end and are gradually making their way towards Moe,” she said.
“We’re doing as much of the work at night as possible, to reduce the inconvenience for our customers.”
When complete, the $15 million expansion of the region’s water grid will help to secure water supplies for the growing populations of Warragul and Drouin.
“The ability to transfer water in either direction offers improved operational security, making the region more resilient to changes in supply and demand, such as climate change and population growth,” Ms Cumming said.
The first stage of the project, a pipe between Yarragon and Darnum, was completed in 2012.
The second stage, which included a pipeline from Darnum to the Warragul, new booster pumps at Darnum and a new pump station at Trafalgar West, was completed in October 2018 and is in the final stages of being commissioned.
A vehicle that was burnt out and left in Binbeal Rd, Drouin has been removed after five months sitting on VicTrack land.
Community members have used social media to complain about the eyesore and Baw Baw Shire has received a number of complaints about the vehicle but no one had taken responsibility until last week.
After The Gazette lodged queries with V/Line on Friday morning, the vehicle was removed later that day.
Council initially received a report on the vehicle in October last year. However, council does not have the authority to remove vehicles from land it does not own or manage.
The vehicle was dumped on VicTrack land in Binbeal Rd that is managed by V/Line.
The vehicle’s location and condition was reported to VicTrack for removal.
Council confirmed its officers had lodged more than 10 requests since October on behalf of complainants to both organisations to have it removed.
The vehicle was recently moved by V/Line contractors closer to the road, so they could mow their road reserve.
A V/Line spokesperson confirmed yesterday that it had removed the abandoned vehicle from the railway reserve on Friday.
“V/Line was unable to remove the vehicle from the site until it had received written advice from Victoria Police,” the spokesperson said.
Police said if abandoned vehicles are identified as stolen then it was up to the owner to claim and recover vehicles from private property such as V/Line land.
Police said while they investigate the circumstances and ownership of a dumped vehicle, once identification was confirmed, recovery of the vehicle was up to the owner.
In circumstances where ownership is not obtained or the owner chooses not to recover the vehicle, it is up to the landowner to organise for the vehicle to be removed.
In instances where vehicles are dumped on public land such as roads, police liaise with the relevant road authority such as VicRoads or council, to organise removal of an abandoned vehicle.