Water mining: Consolidated Water Pty Ltd’s busted for water mining in hinterland without approval

A company found mining water in the Gold Coast hinterland — without approval — has not been fined or otherwise penalised. And they could even start up again with a nod from council.

A COMPANY found mining water in the Gold Coast hinterland without approval has not been fined or otherwise penalised.

In fact, Consolidated Water Pty Ltd’s operations could continue if it gets the nod from Gold Coast City Council.

The company was extracting water from 3552 Nerang Murwillumbah Rd, Natural Bridge without approval since as far back as 2005, council documents show.

The council was alerted to the unapproved extraction operation by a recent complaint.

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The boundaries of the Consolidated Water Pty Ltd water extraction site at Natural Bridge, as pictured in council documents.

You might expect fines or other penalties would apply, but the council has instead warned the company to stop operations and asked for a development application to be submitted.

Come August, the council could give the company the go-ahead to resume extraction with a new approval.

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Documents before the council state Consolidated Water “could supply up to 85,500L per day when bore levels are stable and there is sufficient rain in the area”.

A Town Planning Report prepared by surveyors Bennett & Francis states only one development approval is listed for the site, which is a subdivision dating back to 2000.

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Tanks on site at the Consolidated Water Pty Ltd water extraction site at Natural Bridge, as pictured in council documents.

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“The City of Gold Coast issued a letter on the 11th of February advising Consolidated Water Pty Ltd that no development application has been submitted or development approval given for the premises to be used for the purpose of Extractive Industry,” the council documents state.

A letter “was issued by the Gold Coast City Council in relation to a complaint made”.

The complaint said “the existing extractive industry on the property is acting without a development approval and that Nerang Murwillumbah Road near the property is very narrow and steep and is totally unsuitable for large semi trailers”.

“In response to Council’s request for a DA, Consolidated Water has ceased supply of groundwater to their client,” the documents state.

A council spokeswoman confirmed a complaint triggered a letter to the company, but fines were not issued and no other action was taken.

The letter was sent on February 21 about “commercial groundwater extraction operating at the site without development approval”.

It’s not known how much water was extracted before the letter was sent or exactly when extraction began, the spokeswoman said.

“A response to Council’s letter of February 21, 2019 advised that consultants have been retained to submit the required application and water is no longer being taken from the property,” she said.

Consolidated Water lodged a development application (Material Change of Use) on June 27.

No phone number or email address could be found for Consolidated Water Pty Ltd in Australia.

Surveyors Bennett & Francis would not provide contact details, but forwarded requests for comment, which went unanswered.