Nationals MP Sam Farraway calls for government study on Dunoon Dam

The request came after Rous County Council agreed — although in a divided vote after fiery debate — to leave the Dunoon dam out of the Future Water Plan 2060.

A 3D version of the Dunoon Dam project that has been rejected a umber of times by Rous County councillors.

The NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Water Infrastructure, Sam Farraway, has called for an independent study about the long-term water security for the Northern Rivers.

The Nationals MP said the federal and state governments needed to work together on the regional water strategy and commission an independent study to investigate water storage and security, flood mitigation, river health and water quality.

The request came after Rous County Council agreed on Wednesday — although in a divided vote — to leave the Dunoon dam out of the Future Water Plan 2060.

Water storage and security, flood mitigation, river health and water quality in most of Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond River local government areas are the purpose of Rous County Council.

Samuel Farraway is a National member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Mr Farraway made the comments after watching today’s extraordinary meeting of Rous County Council.

“The community feedback on the Council’s IWCM Strategy was overwhelmingly in favour of the Dunoon Dam project with more than 10,000 of the 13,000 submissions received supporting the Dam being investigated as a future water project.” Mr Farraway said.

“It is outrageous that the majority of elected Councillors have completely ignored the community consultation process and Rous County Council staff recommendations. The community has rightfully lost confidence in these Councillors.”

Mr Farraway said this was why it was necessary for the state and federal governments to undertake an independent study and include this in the Regional Water Strategy.

“This study will take the politics out of it and focus on the science,” Mr Farraway said.

Mr Farraway said water infrastructure was key to the economic growth of the region, and essential to addressing the regions housing shortages.

“You can’t grow a community without access to a safe, clean and reliable water source,” he said.

“Having the right infrastructure in place to increase the amount of water captured in our systems puts us on a war-footing ahead of more infrequent but intense rainfall.

“We are already experiencing increased climate volatility and we need to ensure we capture rain when it falls to sustain us during periods of drought.”