Clarence Valley Council: Mayor Ian Tiley seeks meeting with Water Minister, Member for Clarence over water security
Concerning photos continue to surface showing the poor quality of water piped to long-suffering Clarence Valley residents. It’s prompted a unanimous push for a speedy solution.
Grafton
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The state government says it’s “across” the problem and hunting for a solution to the Clarence Valley’s poor quality water supply as resident complaints mount and council pushes for action.
Residents continue to post to a dedicated Facebook page titled Clarence Valley – What’s wrong with our water??? to share images of brown water and provide updates on the issue in various communities.
“Our new state government needs to put its money where its mouth is and fix this water quality problem once and for all. It’s ridiculous,” a group member complained.
Another resident said she left Grafton in April because she believed the water was making her sick.
“For four years living in gtown (sic) I was ill daily … and I can safely say the water was making me ill,” she wrote.
Concerns were once again raised at last week’s Clarence Valley Council meeting.
Mayor Ian Tiley put forward a mayoral minute, unanimously supported by councillors.
Mr Tiley proposed the council follow up with Clarence MP Richie Williamson of the Nationals and Labor’s Water and North Coast Minister Rose Jackson about an election promise to provide better water security, especially in the form of filtration, for the region.
Mr Tiley said: “During the NSW state election campaign, the Labor candidate for Clarence (Leon Ankersmit) and the then-Shadow Minister for Water made statements about the need for greater security for the Clarence water supply.”
“(I seek) to follow up with the incoming NSW Labor Government and obtain greater certainty regarding those plans,” he said.
“Pursuing the new government’s stated position regarding water filtration, including for Clarence LGA is important, as it is also that council make representations on this important matter.”
Mr Williamson said he looked forward to speaking to the mayor and that he would also seek a meeting with Ms Jackson.
“I will be keeping the Labor government to account on all their promises made,” he said.
“And they did make that promise about the Clarence’s water security.”
In a statement, Ms Jackson said the Labor government, elected in late March, was aware of the Clarence’s concerns about water quality.
“Ensuring Clarence and all regional towns have access to safe, drinkable water is incredibly important to me as Water Minister and the NSW government,” she said.
“We are across Clarence Valley Council’s concerns regarding water filtration and are exploring solutions to deliver a stronger, long term regional water strategy for their community.
“I look forward to continuing conversations with local councils, including Clarence Valley Council, about the best way forward to shore up access to safe and secure water.”
The council’s website states more than 20 drinking water samples are analysed each week.
“If ever the water does not comply with the health limits set in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is unsafe for drinking, we will inform the community as soon as possible,” the site reads.
There are no water restrictions or warnings currently in place, however, earlier this year, residents in Coutts Crossing received a boil water alert and severe (Level 4) water restrictions were placed on the entire council area.
Grafton local Hendrik van Zyl said at the time he and his wife spotted yellow deposits staining the toilet and brown water flowing from taps.
“We’ve never buy bottled water because we always think that or assume that the water that comes out of the tap is really of good quality,” he said.
“Since the yellow deposits started, I’m questioning whether the water is good for human consumption.”
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