Cowra Mayor and Centroc Chair Bill West has urged all sides of the debate surrounding the possibility of a new dam on the Belubula River upstream of Canowindra to let the investigations being undertaken by the NSW Government run their course and answer all questions in detail and with a scientific basis.
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This is about regional development, growth and industry, he says.
“We need a water security solution for the Central Tablelands,” Cr West said.
“This region has undertaken substantial work into our water security and we know that even using all other technologies and strict demand management we will not have enough water in 2059.
“We need new storage. Ideally it will be storage of significance. We need it for mining, growth and agriculture. From an urban water use perspective, the higher the storage is in the catchment the less energy we will need to use pumping water.”
There are a variety of different stakeholders whose views have to be considered coming from the environmental, agricultural, mining and urban sectors to name a few.
Cr West said it was precisely the need to properly examine all aspects that the investigation should proceed.
“We need to see well researched advice that answers all questions in detail and with a scientific basis.
“The Cranky Rock site was first feted for a dam in the 1920s, the ideas stretches that far back,” Cr West said.
“But it was abandoned due to political reasons. It’s time we look at this factually, thoroughly and investigate. We need to answer the question one way or the other as to whether this area can support a dam and just what affect it may or may not have on the environment.”
