WaterNSW has vehemently denied accusations it has no “appetite to build new dams”.
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In an article published in The Irrigator on June 19, MIA farmers Helen Dalton and Debbie Buller claimed the organisation had crunched the numbers and decided dams were “too expensive” in a new study unveiled by the company recently.
“Water is highly valued and necessary for survival,” the pair said.
“With the extremes associated with our climate, dams are very important.
“The lack of vision and the focus on short term goals for internal revenue and electoral cycles is very concerning.”
However, WaterNSW said it wasn’t backing away from constructing new dams.
In a letter to the editor, WaterNSW executive manager asset solutions and delivery Andrew George said it was important to know all the facts.
“(WaterNSW has) identified four sites as preferred options for potential new dams, including Mingay on the Murrumbidgee, along with Mole River (Border Rivers), Horton River (Gwydir valley), and Dungowan Dam (Peel valley),” he said.
As a state-owned corporation and the river system operator, WaterNSW manages bulk water infrastructure in line with government water policies and rules as part of its services to the irrigators and other water users.
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“Contrary to your correspondents, and earlier reports, this study was commissioned and funded by our customers, following a customer engagement process dating back to our 2016 rural valleys pricing submission, where this study on long term infrastructure planning was initiated.”
Mr George said the report also identified numerous other sites with potential for new dams, along with cost estimates.
“(It also) incorporates factors such as likely agricultural trends, population changes, climate variability and demand fluctuations,” he said.
“Potential water infrastructure solutions have been outlined for the next two decades.
“This includes another potential dam site on the Murrumbidgee at Oura, as well as the Tumut River and numerous other locations in the Gwydir, Namoi, Lachlan, and Hunter valleys.”
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