Jen Ireland, The Channon
It would seem that a dam at Dunoon is still on some people’s minds. It has actually been on a lot of people’s minds for a long time, and it is for this reason that it has been thoroughly considered by Rous County Council (RCC) councillors over many years, and finally dropped from being a viable source of water for our area.
Most RCC councillors reject the dam and support a range of options that respect culture and protect the rain forest. This range of water options, also well researched, has been adopted. The new Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Plan excludes the dam, and is now with the Department of Planning and Industry (DPIE) for approval.
It has been said that the majority of local people supported a dam. Certainly, a majority of people signed petitions in favour of a dam, but as Keith Williams (Chair RCC) said in his summing up, the effort to sign a petition can’t be compared to the effort required to put together an individual submission – which were well researched, thought through, and against building an expensive and destructive dam. In addition, these submissions supported the range of water options referred to above, including groundwater, desalination plants, recycled water and rainwater tanks on home and business premises.
Let’s all support RCC to get on with the job of supplying us with water security and not rely on one source alone (which would have been on the same creek as the existing dam) and would have been rainfall dependent as climate change increases. We need a water system fit for the 21st Century!
I am all for a new dam, rocky creek has served Lismore well