Black Mount Natural Spring Water is required by VCAT to pay for road upgrades in the area, to be finished by March 30, but is yet to start work. 

VCAT handed down the ruling in August last year, requiring the company to upgrade Quines Road and Wheelers Hill Road from the Daylesford-Trentham Road to the railway line.

Owner Tim Carey denied there had been a delay, despite plans only being submitted to council late last week.

“Works will be completed as soon as possible,” he said. “It won’t take long once we have approval and we are still working towards meeting that date.”

Residents have also reported reduced water inflow into their bores since the company was first set up and a lack of respect for the truck curfew issued by council.

But Mr Carey denied all claims.  “We aim to stay within curfew and we’re not doing anything we’re not allowed to,” he said. “These residents haven’t contacted me in relation to these oncerns so I can’t respond to them if I don’t know about it. They have my number so I’d ask them to call me directly.”

Despite reassurances, Hepburn Shire councillor Sebastian Klein said residents were becomingly increasingly frustrated by the company. “It’s becoming a bit of a David and Goliath story out there, with residents feeling they are fighting what seems like a losing battle,” Cr Klein said.

Cr Klein said he was dismayed by the lack of movement on the matter.

“Sometimes it seems the legal odds are stacked against council and the community.”

Hepburn Shire said it was liaising with the owner to ensure they comply with all relevant permit conditions. 

The company also came under fire last year, after felling a number of pine trees on Stuart Rattle’s former Musk farm.