Progress on the Marysville temporary village is well advanced.

Positioned on the the ESA land adjacent to the Marysville Golf and Bowls Club the first portable chalets, sponsored by Andrew Forrest, are in position and services connected. A further 10 four-bedroom chalets with a portable kitchen, mess, laundry and cool room which are expected to be completed shortly .  Some recreational facilities are also planned.

Up to 40, 2 bedroom, flat pack houses which have self catering and private facilities are also in the pipeline. The first of these have now been constructed and more will be erected in the next few weeks. 

Goulburn Valley Water Correspondence with Customers

**if your home was not destroyed this does not apply to you**

 I am writing to advise you of an important matter relating to protection of Goulburn Valley Water’s sewerage system in Marysville as a result of the 7 February 2009 bushfires.  I appreciate that you may have many other pressing matters at this time but it is important that you are aware of the process we will be following and your obligations. However, if your home was not destroyed, this does not apply to you.

 In order to avoid run off, soil and debris washing into our sewers and creating a public health issue as we enter the cleanup phase, it is essential to cut and seal all sewer house connections.  This means engaging a plumber, locating the house connection at the sewer point, cutting the connection and sealing it temporarily until the property owner is ready to reconnect.

 The task of having the house connection cut and sealed is being provided free of charge under the Government-funded cleanup facilitated by Grocon. This will be done in conjunction with the cleanup and a record of the work will be completed by Grocon on your behalf and submitted to Goulburn Valley Water.

 However, if you decide not to use the free services provided via Grocon, you will be required to engage a plumber to cut and seal the sewer at your own expense.

 I strongly encourage you to take up the free offer through the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority to have these works done in the most time efficient manner and without any cost or inconvenience incurred by you, the property owner.

 I also take the opportunity to advise Marysville customers that GVW is seeking a Government directive on billing of water and sewerage charges. We will not be issuing bills until we receive this Directive. We have no control over the timing of the Directive, but are hopeful it will be by mid-April.

 Yours faithfully

 Allen J Gale

Bushfire Recovery Controller / GENERAL MANAGER TECHNICAL SERVICES