Water utility Rous County Council says they are doing everything they can to help rural residents with access to water cartage as drought continues to impact the region.
Rous County Council spokesperson Andrew Logan told Echonetdaily that there are 11 filling stations across the region, with Bangalow, South Lismore and Clunes being the busiest for the 20 licensed water carters to access.
‘There is room for more operators’, Logan said, adding that Rous County Council are not restricting licences, and are responding to applications within 24 hours.
When asked if rural residents can collect their own water, he replied they couldn’t, yet ‘Richmond Valley has a public filling point.’
‘Other councils are looking at this,’ he said, adding there is a Rous County Council meeting planned on December 11 to look at increasing capacity.
Byron Shire Council staff and the mayor are yet to reply to Echonetdaily‘s question: ‘What plans are there to address the severe water shortages for those in rural areas of the Shire?’
