Pumps investigated near bore sites

Gosford Council has investigated all houses within a 50-metre radius of proposed production bores, to determine if there are any existing adjacent spears or bores in the area, according to a report to the council.

Spear point pumps and bores within this radius could have had an impact on the localised drop in the aquifer around these areas, according to the report.

In response to a question from Cr Terri Latella on August 1, the report stated that "there are many unlicensed spears in Woy Woy".

"The Department of Natural Resources only have 470 recorded and there is no other way available to locate the bores without carrying out investigations on site," the report stated.

Cr Latella had asked if a separate study was being conducted at a Local or State Government level into groundwater levels on the Peninsula as part of investigations into "stormwater and filtration".

Council's acting director of water and sewerage at the time stated that the transitivity of the sand (transport/flow of water through the sand) was such that a localised drop in the aquifer would occur during a pumping event.

It stated: "The biggest impact will be where there are any existing adjacent spears/bores within a 10 to 20m radius of the proposed production bores".

"Council is presently checking all houses within a 50m radius to ascertain where the spears/bores are located within this zone of influence to evaluate how many spear points may be within these zones."

Council agenda Q.62, November 28