No Tillegra Dam Group

NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly told parliament on two occasions this week that Tillegra Dam was being developed to secure water supplies for the Central Coast as well as the Lower Hunter (see answers to questions without notice below).
Since the 2007 announcement of federal funding for the Mardi to Mangrove pipeline to secure the Central Coast’s water supply in drought periods, Tillegra has no longer been required for Wyong and Gosford shires.
In December 2008, Water Minister Phil Costa told the Central Coast mayors that they would not be paying for the dam. (source)
Hunter Water customers have already begun to pay for the dam, while the recent regulator’s determination on water pricing for Central Coast households did not include any Tillegra costs.
Unless there has been a dramatic but secret change of direction by the Keneally government, the Planning Minister has displayed an extraordinary level of ignorance about the $477 million project that is currently being assessed by his Department.
The proposal is expected to go to Planning Minister Kelly for determination in the near future.
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: “Either NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly is deeply ignorant of the highly controversial project that he will be assessing in the near future, or there is something the Keneally government has not told us.
“Either way it is yet another example of the profoundly muddled case for Tillegra Dam.
“It is clear that neither the Hunter nor the Central Coast need this project to secure their water supplies yet the government persists with the application without really knowing what it is for.
“Hunter residents should not have to pay for water supply infrastructure for the Central Coast. If the Keneally government wants to make this a project for Wyong and Gosford shires, then they should start again with a new pricing arrangement and a new environmental report.
“While Hunter households are on the brink of being forced to bear the costs of a $477 million dam they don’t need, Planning Minister Tony Kelly who is the final consent authority, is confused as to where the water will be used.
“The Keneally government wants to rip almost half a billion dollars out of the Hunter’s economy without knowing why they are doing it. They must stop before it is too late and ask both the community and experts how to proceed.
“Without an independent inquiry into the future water needs of the Lower Hunter, there is a real risk that the wetlands will be destroyed, the economy damaged and household water bills inflated for no sensible reason.
“Planning Minister Tony Kelly has provided an exceptionally good illustration of the need for the project to be put on hold while an independent inquiry sorts out exactly what are the future water needs of Newcastle and the lower Hunter,” Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 1954 55.

Hansard Transcript, NSW Legislative Council, Wednesday 1 September 2010
TILLEGRA DAM
The Hon. ROBYN PARKER: My question is directed to the Minister for Planning and Lands.
The PRESIDENT: Order! There is an order to be followed for the asking of questions. The Opposition missed an opportunity to ask a question earlier; for that reason it is now being given the opportunity to ask a question.
The Hon. ROBYN PARKER: I ask the Minister whether he recalls that on 30 March 2010 the Minister for Planning responded to a question about omissions in the Tillegra Dam environment assessment report with the following statement:If any additional information is received on the project prior to its determination by the Minister for Planning, the Department of Planning will carefully consider the need for further public exhibition in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Has the Department of Planning reviewed the additional geotechnical report that was not included in the environmental assessment report? Has this additional information been included in the socioeconomic review conducted by the Department of Planning? Will the review be made available to the public?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: I thank the Hon. Robyn Parker for her question. The lower Hunter currently is the sixth-largest urban area in Australia and one of the State’s major centres for economic activity. Strategic planning is targeting significant population growth for the lower Hunter and Central Coast regions. It is fundamental that a secure water supply be provided to existing and future communities in those regions—not just during average rainfall conditions but also in periods of extended or severe drought.
The Hunter Water Corporation has proposed construction of the Tillegra Dam to provide security of groundwater supply to the lower Hunter and Central Coast. As the Minister for Planning I am the approval authority for the project under part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 979. The Tillegra Dam has been declared to be a critical infrastructure project in recognition of its role in the future growth of the lower Hunter and Central Coast.
Notwithstanding that, the project will be subject to a rigorous environmental assessment process, including full and transparent community engagement, before my decision is made. Currently the Department of Planning is undertaking its independent merit assessment of the project. At this stage it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on the outcomes of the assessment process. As part of the assessment of the project the department has engaged a number of independent consultants to provide expert advice. The expert reviews include consideration of the potential impact of the project on the hydrology of the Williams River, modelling of potential impacts on the Hunter estuary, and evaluation of justification for the project.

Hansard Transcript, Legislative Council, Thursday 2 September 2010
TILLEGRA DAM
Dr JOHN KAYE: My question is directed to the Minister for Planning. Is the Minister aware of widespread community concern in the Hunter that the environmental assessment process for the Tillegra Dam proposal has been ill informed by Hunter Water Corporation’s environmental assessment report, and that the process lacks independence, given that the State Government or its agencies are both the proponents and the consent authority? Will the Minister address these concerns by putting the assessment process on hold while an independent inquiry is conducted into the water needs in the lower Hunter?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: Recently I told the House that the lower Hunter is one of the State’s major centres for economic activity, and forecasts indicate significant population growth in the lower Hunter and the Central Coast regions. A secure water supply needs to be provided to existing and future communities in those regions. The Hunter Water Corporation is proposing the construction of Tillegra Dam to provide greater water supply and security to the lower Hunter and the Central Coast.
Dr John Kaye: Point of order: My point of order relates to boring repetition. As we heard exactly the same answer yesterday, do the Minister’s remarks not fall into that category?
The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no point of order. The Minister’s answer will continue to be generally relevant.
The Hon. TONY KELLY: The Department of Planning is currently undertaking an independent merit assessment of the project and it would be inappropriate, as I said recently, for me to speculate on the outcomes of the assessment process at this stage. As part of the assessment of the project the department has engaged a number of independent consultants to provide expert advice. Those expert reviews include consideration of the potential impact of the project on the Williams River hydrology.