Cooroy well mystery deepens

BY ALEX PURCELL

WHO owns the old Cooroy Butter Factory well is as clear as its water.

Two years ago, the Cooroy Rag with the help of local stalwarts Max Arbuthnot, Alan Kenzler and Rob Jeffs lifted the lid on a decades-old mystery by confirming the concrete tank in Apex Park contains water and not sewage.

Since then, the Rag has been working hard to get to the bottom of the mystery of who owns this “liquid gold” source, used by the butter factory during its years of operation.

But after speaking at length with government and statutory authorities, it seems no one does.

Unitywater executive manager of customer delivery Rhett Duncan said it is not a part of Unitywater’s infrastructure.

“Unitywater can confirm the old Cooroy Butter Factory well is not part of our infrastructure.

“It is not connected to the drinking water supply or the wastewater network.”

Likewise, it is not a part of Seqwater’s infrastructure.

“This advice follows comprehensive checks including against our asset management list, reviewing spatial data, and performing a heritage search for local, state and Commonwealth listings.”

A Queensland Department of Resources spokesperson told the Rag in 2021 it has no record of the old well.

“Nothing comes up in our records or data about any well or bore in Apex Park. We assume it predates our records. But if it is in a council park, it is council responsibility.”

But Noosa Council communications manager Ken Furdek again said, while council is responsible for the upkeep of Apex Park, the ‘’manhole’’ is not listed on council’s asset registers.

So, if no one “owns” the well, does that mean the community can?

Even just to acknowledge it is the old Cooroy Butter Factory well with a sign or perhaps a mural on the concrete tank.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by emailing editorial@ cooroyrag.com.au.