By LIA SPENCER
A CASEY councillor has blamed Melbourne Water for improper maintenance of the lake at Berwick Springs, forcing a fountain to be turned off.
Casey councillor Sam Aziz said it took eight years for the fountain at Berwick Springs to be fixed after a dispute with Melbourne Water over repair costs.
He said Melbourne Water quoted the council in the “tens of thousands of dollars” to fix the fountain, so council fixed it on their own at a cost of about $4000.
He said that one week after fixing it, the council was told it had to turn the fountain off due to blue-green algae, which Cr Aziz blamed on poor maintenance by Melbourne Water.
“Residents in the estate bought their properties with a promise that there was an operating fountain. When it is going, it looks great and adds to the estate,” Cr Aziz said.
“Residents enjoy walks around the lake. It is a better atmosphere. Residents deserve their fountain.”
Melbourne Water’s David Leggo, who is team leader of maintenance and minor capital in the South-East, said Melbourne Water denied the allegations.
He said Melbourne Water removed weeds and litter from the wetlands and along the lake’s edge every month, but was not responsible for maintaining the fountain at Berwick Springs.
Mr Leggo said Melbourne Water notified the community in February of a blue-green algae outbreak in the area and encouraged council to turn off the fountain to minimise the risk of people coming into contact with airborne blue-green algae.
“Blue-green algae occurs naturally in waterways and erupts into blooms during hot weather, periods of drought, or where there is an accumulation of nutrients, usually due to low rainfall,” Mr Leggo said.
“Melbourne Water worked with council, the EPA, Department of Health, Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) to manage the algae bloom which has now cleared.”
Melbourne Water did not comment on whether the fountain was able to be turned back on.
