No Tillegra Dam Group

Why does Hunter Water seem to be missing the point, again?Its Sydney counterpart, Sydney Water, in its January 2008 rate notice issue, clearly states, that in the light of the uncertainties surrounding climate change and rainfall patterns, it can no longer rely on the traditional methods of water harvesting and storage for a growing population. Therefore Sydney Water has embarked on its Metroplan 2006 in helping to meet future demand for water by:
– increasing water recycling targets by 2015, whereby 12% of the supply will come from recycling;
– building a desal plant which will not be affected by rain or drought conditions;
– fix water leaks and breakages;
– offer good rebates and water conservation incentives by installing water tanks and water saving devices;
– introduction of mandatory Level 3 water restrictions through legislation.

However, Hunter Water seems to be ignoring these measures and would rather adopt:
– construction of a 450 billion litre controversial dam at Tillegra (just outside Dungog), the very size of Sydney Harbour, increasing the Hunter yield by a massive and unnecessary 77%;
– a target of water recycling over the next 25 years at 7% to 8% coming off a current level of only 4%;
– a downplay of the use of water tanks – Russell Pascoe of Hunter Water said on 28 December 2007 on ABC Radio that the region does not need them and they are not economic; and
– to continue to ignore the introduction of mandatory water restrictions despite the “worst drought on record” and yet the last time the region was under water restrictions was in 1994.

No doubt we will hear how wonderful Hunter Water will be in meeting the demand for future water supply to the region. However, no where in its most recent publicly debated and consulted Waterplan 2003, was it stated that building a 450GL dam was the answer. In fact it was recommended as the second least desirable option. As late as February 2006 and again in October 2006, the Managing Director of Hunter Water, outlined in the Newcastle Herald, a list of methods for meeting future demand – nowhere in those measures was Tillegra dam mentioned. But within 2 weeks of the October release the NSW State Government announced its proposal to construct Tillegra Dam. This proposal has yet to be publicly and openly justified to the people of the Hunter Region i.e. the people who are going to have to pay for this $300m plus folly.

Let’s hope Hunter Water speak to their learned counterparts further down the coast and learn something about water management strategies.

Maybe with the better use of more modern technologies and a little more constructive rather than destructive thinking, we might be able to save a unique part of this planet for our future generations.

I am sure we do not want to be labelled as the generation which vandalised this planet.

Now is the time to “THINK SMARTER” before it is too late.