It is predicted that the next 40 years will see the demand for water increase by 50 per cent in the local government areas (LGA) that Rous County Council (RCC) supply with water.
This is due to the pressure on the region to accept a significant population increase. The current population sees approximately 37,000 residential connections and 3,800 non-residential connections. This is forecasted to grow to 63,700 residential connections and 8,640 non-residential connections by 2060 across the Lismore, Byron, Ballina, and Richmond Valley LGAs. That is an expected increase of 31,540 connections over the next 40 years. However, these figures exclude growth in the towns of Mullumbimby, Wardell, Nimbin and Casino.
Each Council elects two councillors to the RCC which is responsible for securing the water supply to these LGAs and the midterm elections have seen the status quo retained on the RCC governing body.
Dunoon Dam
Richmond Valley Mayor Robert Mustow was reelected chairperson and Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader was reelected deputy chairperson.
Following the last council elections the controversial Dunoon Dam was again put back on the agenda at the first RCC meeting; it had been removed by the previous RCC board in December 2020.
The removal was based on the two cultural heritage studies that had been conducted and that the traditional owners had objected to the dam, the environmental impact, and the cost to ratepayers.
Speaking to the future water challenges Ms Cadwallader told The Echo, ‘Rous is taking immediate actions to secure water for the region by developing new groundwater schemes and to meet the challenge of a growing population and a changing climate, so an “all options on the table” approach is being taken to Rou’s third stage of planning.’
‘Responsible planning means investigating all the options that are available to Rous including groundwater, purified recycled water, desalination and surface water options. The Proposed Dunoon Dam is one of these options being investigated with comprehensive cultural heritage and biodiversity assessments commencing in the coming weeks. These assessments will provide Councillors with the comprehensive and contemporary information required to make an informed decision regarding the next steps.’
Third Cultural Heritage study
This will mark the third cultural heritage study done at the Dunoon Dam site with traditional owners having repeatedly stated that they are opposed to the Dunoon Dam.
‘The suggestion to drown our sites to protect them, as stated in the 2013 Cultural Heritage impact assessment is deeply offensive to us,’ Widjabul Wia-bal woman of the Bundjalung Nation, Skye Roberts told RCC in February 2022.
WATER Northern Rivers who formed in opposition to the Dunoon Dam and to promote alternative strategies to ensure water security in the region told The Echo that they ‘invite members of this governing body to update our community on what Rous has done to date to bring real water security into reality by fixing system losses (leaks), enhancing ground water sources, progressing recycled water and desalination, in line with the Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy.’
Chairperson Mustow said ‘We will continue to find solutions for the challenges specific to this area, especially in the fields of water security, weed biosecurity, and rural flood mitigaton. I’m certain that our team of county councillors will work towards finding solutions for these challenges and make a positive contribution to our community.’
‘The region’s constituent councils, residents, Traditional Custodians, business owners, farmers and others can be confident that our council will continue to manage our natural resources and infrastructure,’ said Ms Cadwallader.
The role of Rous County councillors is to represent their constituent council and make decisions that are in the best interests of the region Rous County Council serves.
The other six Rous County councillors are:
- Councillor Rod Bruem (Ballina Shire Council)
- Councillor Michael Lyon (Byron Shire Council)
- Councillor Sarah Ndiaye (Byron Shire Council)
- Councillor Big Rob (Lismore City Council)
- Councillor Andrew Gordon (Lismore City Council)
- Councillor Sandra Humphrys (Richmond Valley Council)
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