DP Dumps Water on Tillegra EAR
The Department of Planning has sent a clear message to Hunter Water over the Tillegra Dam Environmental Assessment Report, sending them back to the drawing board to do more work.
Once again Hunter Water’s incompetence has been called into question with regard to their collection of data. We well remember the data free zone application that Hunter Water sent to the Federal Government with regards to the EPBC Act. Data was limited and taken over an extremely short duration. The referral was also filled with simplistic assumptions and generalisations.
Already, through Freedom of Information documents, we know that senior level officers from other government departments have questioned whether this dam should proceed. They have also questioned the gathering of data by Hunter Water, labelling it inadequate.
One senior level government officer stated: “The concern is that our department will be expected to come to terms with Hunter Water over what we see as an inadequate proposal, and then the department will be expected to defend the decision on the environmental impact in the public arena.”
Our information from various government departments is that they have been told by Hunter Water the dam is proceeding. This calls into question the ability of these government departments to make independent comment on the viability of this proposal.
This has been a slap in the face for the Dungog community. Hunter Water has downplayed the effects on agriculture, ecology, the local economy and the community in general.
Hunter Water has had 3 years to get this Environmental Assessment Report right and they have managed to still bungle it.
It is now time for the Rees Government to dump the Tillegra catastrophe and implement a full and open integrated water resource planning process to develop a sustainable water strategy for the Hunter. This happens in Sydney, why not here in the Hunter?
For more information, contact Sally Corbett, No Tillegra Dam, on 0403892093