One in a million!
INQUIRY INTO TILLEGRA – A MUST HAVE!
An independent review into the need for the proposed Tillegra Dam has confirmed that Hunter Water has failed its customers dismally by attempting to push ahead with an unnecessary white elephant.
Amongst its recommendations, The Institute for Sustainable Futures study recommends that the NSW Government direct Hunter Water to immediately halt all planning on Tillegra. It also calls for a full and open integrated water resource planning process with genuine public engagement.
Hunter Water’s Kevin Young has maintained that a proper public consultation has occurred over Tillegra. This is a farce, Hunter Water’s H250 plan had Tillegra as a fait accompli. The public was never given a choice. IPART was also directed that they couldn’t question the need for Tillegra.
Hunter Water has a water monopoly in the Hunter. Water supply is an essential service and there is an expectation that the water needs of the community will be managed in an efficient and well-planned manner. This has not occurred.
This report confirms the views of other water planning specialists, environmentalists, economists, and leading academics that the era of dam building is over.
The public ought to be properly consulted to determine the level of service they require and are willing to pay for. It is negligent of Hunter Water to expect ratepayers to pay for an unnecessary dam when there are other, cheaper, and more effective options.
With a one in one million chance of the Hunter running out of water, it is time that this fiasco was put on hold. The ratepayers of the Hunter have sent Kevin Young a clear message about this dam and he has ignored them. He has failed in his job to give reliable evidenced based advice to the NSW Government in regards to Tillegra. It is now time for the Government to step in, take control, and implement a full Parliamentary inquiry into the need for Tillegra.
For more information, contact Sally Corbett on 0403892093