Community forum
Where: Hunter Room, Newcastle City Hall, 290 King St, Newcastle, 2300
When: 6 – 7:45pm Wednesday 28 July, 2010
Why: The Tillegra dam has drawn fire from renowned water planning experts and ecologists, the fishing industry and numerous community groups. More than 8,000 people have made submissions, written to Jodi McKay and Premier Keneally and signed petitions expressing their opposition to this dam. Read more here.
Political speakers include:
· Jodi McKay, Member for Newcastle, Minister for the Hunter – declined and pending response to request for alternative representative
· John Kaye, Greens MLC – confirmed
· John Tate: Newcastle Lord Mayor, Independent candidate – confirmed
· Robyn Parker, NSW Liberal Party candidate – confirmed
We have also received confirmation that Bob Baldwin (Member for Paterson) and Jan Davis (Greens candidate for Paterson) will be attending.
Community speakers include:
· Simon Fane, Institute for Sustainable Futures
· Brad Warren, OceanWatch Australia
· Antoine Mangion, Combined Pensioners and Superannuates Association NSW
· Carol Pasenow, Chair No Tillegra Dam Group and family member of landowners in dam inundation area
· Justin McKee, The Wilderness Society Newcastle
· Linda Bowden, Tillegra Dam Community Reference Group
A strict format: Firstly, community representatives will very briefly outline their perspective on the proposed dam. Secondly, each political speaker will have three minutes to answer three set questions:
1. Will you stop Tillegra Dam and protect the Williams River?
2. Will you commit to an integrated water resource planning process to develop sustainable urban water strategy for the Lower Hunter that includes genuine public engagement and consideration of all options?
3. Will you direct preferences to a candidate who opposes the Tillegra Dam proposal?
Media logistics / Interviews : Justin McKee 0404 824 020