HWC contempt for Dungog Shire
Dungog Shire Council has sent a damming letter to the Department of Planning outlining the lack of respect and consideration that Hunter Water Corp. (HWC) has given to the local community. The letter can be downloaded from the Council’s website. With statements against the HWC submission response (SR) like:
- “HWC’s commercial interests in the project override the Council and community’s expectation”
- “Dungog Shire Council does not support the project as the EAR has failed to adequately assess and compensate for the social and economic impacts to our community and infrastructure”,
the council is sending HWC and its political masters a clear message – you can’t count on our support for an unwanted project by less than worthy proponents controlled by arrogant political masters.
Further, the Council dismisses HWC so-called sweeteners with, “many of the additional commitments HWC have made in the SR are required directly as a result of the proposed dam. This includes the construction of new roads and the environmental/nature reserves and should not be put forward as proponent commitments, when they have in fact been required from the outset to replace assets that will be lost, accommodate the proponents design and achieve the required environmental offsets”.
It seems like NSW Labor is squeezing us dry, “If the dam proceeds, up to 80% of the water supply for the Hunter Region will be generated in the Dungog Shire. The implications of locating these resources within the Dungog Shire over the long term and the financial benefit to Hunter Water and the NSW Government should be recognised and linked to a long term financial return to Council and the local community”.